Since the launch of Xbox Game Pass in Japan last year, Microsoft has made a highly focused effort to try to make both the Xbox platform and brand a viable competitor in Japan against the country's own giants Nintendo and PlayStation. That has involved bringing a lot of beloved Japanese titles to Xbox Game Pass from developers both big and small, and increasing Xbox's presense at Japanese events such as Tokyo Game Show. During its Tokyo Game Show 2021 stream, Microsoft announced two major Japanese titles, Scarlet Nexus and AI: The Somnium Files will be coming to Xbox Game Pass today.
Scarlet Nexus was first announced during Microsoft's own Inside Xbox in May 2020 where it was revealed to be among the first titles coming to Xbox Series X and S. While the game is not exclusive to the platforms, and also launched on Xbox One, Microsoft handled much of the game's marketing and it even received an Xbox timed exclusive demo a few weeks before launch. Scarlet Nexus went on to be a success at release, receiving favorable reviews and even launching alongside an anime created by Cowboy Bebop and Code Geass studio Sunrise. While many assumed that the title would come to Xbox Game Pass eventually, adding the title only 3 months after launch has come as a major surprise to Xbox Game Pass subscribers.
AI: The Somnium Files on the other hand arrives on Xbox platforms for the very first time today, with Microsoft also announcing the port during its Tokyo Game Show 2021 stream. AI: The Somnium Files first released on PC, Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in September 2019 and follows a detective named Kaname Date as he and his AI eye implant 'Aiba' investigate a serial murder case by traveling into the minds of the victims and suspects through a device called Somnium.
The game was directed by Zero Escape creator Kotaro Uchikoshi and developed by Danganronpa studio Spike Chunsoft. For many fans of this series, an Xbox port seemed like it was bound to come at some point as the game's sequel, AI: The Somnium Files - Nirvana Initiative was announced for Xbox One and Xbox Series X back in July. Upon release AI: The Somnium Files was praised for its non-linear storytelling structure and likeable cast and has gone on to earn a cult following. Its release on Xbox platforms sets its sequel up for major attention when it releases in Spring 2022.
Furthermore, Xbox also announced today that Xbox Cloud Gaming will arrive in Japan, Australia, Brazil, and Mexico tomorrow, allowing even more Xbox players to get their hands on titles such as Scarlet Nexus and AI: The Somnium Files from their mobile devices and PC through cloud streaming.