With an extensive collection of game franchises under its belt, Microsoft commands one of the largest back catalogs in the gaming industry. Amidst this vast library, certain titles consistently capture the community’s attention. In a recent interview, Xbox head Phil Spencer shed light on some of the most frequently requested game revivals, alongside other captivating discussions.
Spencer revealed that the top contenders for a comeback from Microsoft’s archives are the Japanese RPGs Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey, along with Western classics Crimson Skies and MechAssault.
Both Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey were originally crafted by Mistwalker, the esteemed studio founded by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the legendary creator of Final Fantasy. Blue Dragon marked Mistwalker’s debut project, featuring distinctive character designs by Akira Toriyama, known for Dragon Ball and Dragon Quest. Lost Odyssey, on the other hand, boasted character designs by Takehiko Inoue, renowned for Slam Dunk and Vagabond. While Inoue may be less familiar in the West compared to Toriyama, both are colossal figures in Japan, making these RPGs particularly significant for Japanese fans.
Conversely, Crimson Skies and MechAssault emerged during the early days of the original Xbox, born from Microsoft’s collaboration with FASA, the publisher behind iconic series like BattleTech and Shadowrun. Crimson Skies offered an action-packed flight experience set in an alternate 1930s America, where air travel was central to transportation and combat. MechAssault delivered an exhilarating action-shooter featuring BattleTech mechs and was a pioneering title in utilizing Xbox Live functionality.
Regarding the potential return of these games, the Japanese RPGs appear more plausible, as Mistwalker remains an active studio and retains ownership of both franchises. For the Western titles, it’s noted that Microsoft previously added Crimson Skies to its backwards-compatibility program, but not MechAssault. Although both games seem entangled in rights complexities—Topps now holds the rights to FASA’s properties—Crimson Skies presents a more realistic possibility for revival.
Beyond discussing these highly anticipated revivals, Spencer also touched upon the decision to set Forza Horizon 6 in Japan, a location that has been the most requested in the series’ 13-year history. He praised Japan’s “fantastic” topography as a key inspiration. He also briefly mentioned Xbox’s collaborations with Japanese studios on projects such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and Beast of Reincarnation, deferring to those teams for further details on their developments.