The Latest on Mistwalker

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Sep 26, 2013
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#1
So the latest on Mistwalker is that Sakaguchi told Siliconera back in March 2012 that he was planning make three iOS titles. Two of them, Party Wave and Blade Guardian, are already out. The third game is currently in development and all I know about it is that Hironobu Sakaguchi had a dinner meeting with Nobuo Uematsu back in June 2013 about it.

The other thing we know is that they've expressed interest in making a game for Wii U.
Nintendo has been partnering up with developers to make Wii U projects such as The Wonderful 101 with Platinum Games and Fire Emblem x SMT with Atlus. Could they be doing something with Mistwalker again?

The other thing to consider is that all the games Mistwalker has worked on are co-developed with another company. Blue Dragon with Artoon, Lost Odyssey with Feelplus and The Last Story with AQ Interactive. Maybe they're not able to work on a console project right now cause a studio to outsource development duties to isn't available at the moment?

Or maybe Microsoft has approached them for a XBox One project? Seems like Microsoft wants to try Japan again.

Right now though it seems like they're focused on that iOS title. Is this the future of Mistwalker? Or will they one day go back to making console games like The Last Story, Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon? What do you hope for?
 

Casval

PSICOM Soldier
Sep 30, 2013
69
36
#2
I hope to visit Mistwalker and ask Sakaguchi a few questions! :p

Mistwalker's future likely includes both mobile and console games. If Microsoft have continued to offer financial support, then naturally an X1 project should arise sooner or later. Nothing for Sony platforms in the foreseeable future, I'm afraid, unless the situation has changed.
 

Dollow

PSICOM Soldier
Sep 26, 2013
88
24
dollowrlance.blogspot.com
#3
I hope to visit Mistwalker and ask Sakaguchi a few questions! :p

Mistwalker's future likely includes both mobile and console games. If Microsoft have continued to offer financial support, then naturally an X1 project should arise sooner or later. Nothing for Sony platforms in the foreseeable future, I'm afraid, unless the situation has changed.
I can see a new JRPG for the XBone down the line, they seem to have good relationship.

I don't remember where I heard this, but if memory serves me right; Sakaguchi is not a big fan of Sony or something along those lines, right?
 

Zack

Somniac
Moderator
UFFSite Veteran
Site Staff
Jul 29, 2013
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#4
It's really between Sakaguchi and Kutaragi, who is, of course, no longer in the picture. http://www.1up.com/news/hironobu-sakaguchi-doesn-ken-kutaragi

Mistwalker was founded thanks to funding by Microsoft, and Nintendo assisted with The Last Story, so there's nothing saying that Sony hasn't approached Mistwalker to help fund a new project for their systems. There is Playstation Mobile, after all.
 

Joshua

Sphere Hunter
Oct 7, 2013
231
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California
#5
The other thing to consider is that all the games Mistwalker has worked on are co-developed with another company. Blue Dragon with Artoon, Lost Odyssey with Feelplus and The Last Story with AQ Interactive. Maybe they're not able to work on a console project right now cause a studio to outsource development duties to isn't available at the moment?
To add to that, Artoon and Feelplus were technically divisions within AQ Interactive - the larger overall holding company. The director of Blue Dragon (Artoon), Takuya Matsumoto, was the technical lead on The Last Story (AQ). AQ has since dissolved Artoon and Feelplus (and Cavia of Drakengard/Nier fame). And then AQ also merged with Marvelous to become Marvelous AQL. So who knows if there is even a familiar business relationship for Sakaguchi to return to with so much change?

As for what's next, it's hard to say. I doubt we'll get a Blue Dragon 4 (if I'm counting right?) or Lost Odyssey 2 due to the first games not being blockbusters. And there are no advance leaks in the Mistwalker ship, that's for sure. What I would hope for, privately, is that Sakaguchi take another stab at a low-budget 2D JRPG. Maybe that's what his other iOS game may be and why it hasn't been heard about in so long?
 

gaiages

:<
Moderator
Site Staff
Sep 26, 2013
110
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Florida
#7
I doubt we'll get a Blue Dragon 4
The weird thing about the Blue Dragon games is that Plus and Awakened Shadow aren't the 'true sequel' that Mistwalker teased... sometime. I don't quite remember what they said about the game, as the time for making the 'true' Blue Dragon 2 game is WAY past now, but I always found it weird that they developed side games for the series when it wasn't well enough received in the first place. It's also really weird that yeah, the side games both take place after the original game, but weren't really considered full sequels for whatever reason.

Anyway, that was off-topic, but I felt like saying it. :p
 

Dollow

PSICOM Soldier
Sep 26, 2013
88
24
dollowrlance.blogspot.com
#8
Is it just me, or does it seem like Mistwalker doesn't make games beyond iSO/Mobile unless it is, for lack of a better phase, "On someone else's dime".

Mistwalker don't know what is going to happen with them in the future, but whatever it is, I don't think we will see it anytime soon.
 

Joshua

Sphere Hunter
Oct 7, 2013
231
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California
#9
Hopefully Squirrel Emperor you won't mind a little sleuthing added to this thread? :) :)

Look what Mr. Sakaguchi posted to his public Facebook feed a couple hours ago. A lunch meeting with Jun Iwasaki. You know, the guy who was CEO and President of Square USA from 1998-2004, then President of XSEED from 2004-2012. Wow, Square USA and XSEED sure had great runs during both those spans, eh?

Anyhow, probably just a meeting of two old friends, right?

You'll also notice that over the last several months all Sakaguchi is doing is posting on his Facebook "off to LA" "off to Tokyo" "back in Honolulu" on and on with photos of his trips. He's certainly on the move.

Oh yeah, back to Jun Iwasaki --- I wonder what he is up to these days??
In an effort to capitalize on the Western games industry, GungHo Online Entertainment has announced the formation of a North American subsidiary. GungHo, which owns top developers such as Game Arts, Acquire and Gravity (Ragnarok Online), has tasked veteran Jun Iwasaki to lead the charge into the West. GungHo Online Entertainment America, headquartered in Marina Del Rey, will look to Iwasaki's experience as the former Square Enix USA president and CEO of Xseed, to "deliver the best network-oriented console, handheld, mobile, tablet and PC games for players in North America and Europe.

GungHo sure is flush with all that Puzzles & Dragons cash (and soon, Clash of Clans cash), I hear they are worth more than Nintendo at this point.

Oops, I got a little off topic. Mistwalker is in bed with GungHo, which is based in LA and Tokyo. But yeah, took a lot of speculation for me to get there. We'll see.
 
Likes: gaiages
Sep 26, 2013
1,612
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#10
Hopefully Squirrel Emperor you won't mind a little sleuthing added to this thread? :) :)
I don't mind! It's kinda what the thread is about. When companies go silent for a long time. People like ourselves wonder what they're up to and do some investigating.

Side note: I notice Sakaguchi likes taking pictures of the sky.
 
Oct 5, 2013
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#12
Is it just me, or does it seem like Mistwalker doesn't make games beyond iSO/Mobile unless it is, for lack of a better phase, "On someone else's dime".
I think it's because they're just a small game design studio. They make the scenario, story, ect. And a bigger studio does the rest.

I just wish Sony would pick them up for a PS4 project. Heavens knows we need more JRPG's in the scene alongside Final Fantasy.
 

Zero

ShinRa SOLDIER
UFFSite Veteran
#13
Didn't Sakaguchi say The Last Story was going to be his last game if it wasn't a huge success... or something along those lines? Not to impugn on his work, nor The Last Story; Zero hasn't played it yet. But let's face the facts: It was not a huge success. Further, Zero thoroughly enjoyed Lost Odyssey... and Blue Dragon, though to a significantly lesser extent. And yes, it would be nice to see him doing something for PlayStation, or even Square once again.
 

Casval

PSICOM Soldier
Sep 30, 2013
69
36
#14
@Zero: I don't have a source on me right now, but Sakaguchi clarified that such a statement was an error in translation. He'd worked on TLS only as if it were his last game. I don't remember his saying anything about quitting (or not) based on TLS's performance.
 
Likes: Zero
Sep 26, 2013
1,612
626
#18
I think it's because they're just a small game design studio. They make the scenario, story, ect. And a bigger studio does the rest.

I just wish Sony would pick them up for a PS4 project. Heavens knows we need more JRPG's in the scene alongside Final Fantasy.
It's rumored that Sony's working on a couple JRPG projects. One of them is suppose to compete against Final Fantasy.

I don't see them asking for Mistwalker's help though. Unless Sony's impressed with what they've done.
 
Oct 5, 2013
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#20
It's rumored that Sony's working on a couple JRPG projects. One of them is suppose to compete against Final Fantasy.

I don't see them asking for Mistwalker's help though. Unless Sony's impressed with what they've done.
That rumor came from Verendus, if I recall.

I think he specifically mentioned 2 JRPG projects, one of them being something to rival Final Fantasy.