TGS: Microsoft and Square Enix team up

Ahead of tomorrow’s Tokyo Game Show, Microsoft has spoken of its partnership with acclaimed Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest publisher Square Enix which will see the two showcase product side-by-side at the event.

Microsoft sees its close ties with Square Enix as key to future success in the Japanese games market – particularly as the Xbox 360 is gaining momentum in the territory.

Kotaku quotes Xbox Japan’s marketing executive Jyoji Sakaguchi as saying: We’re going to take advantage of our booths being side-by-side, because both the Square Enix and Microsoft booths are working in tandem.

This time around, we’re putting the greatest importance in getting the largest number of visitors to play our games. At the Microsoft and the Square Enix booths, we’re holding a lottery. The winner gets to go to the Square Enix booth and play… you’ll have to wait to that day to see what happens.”

It was announced at E3 this year that the upcoming Final Fantasy XIII will be released simultaneously on both Xbox 360 and PS3 next year – the first time that a numbered outing for the series has not debuted solely on PlayStation. However, FFXIII will not be released on Xbox 360 in Japan.