Thanks to Masahiro Sakurai, Xbox is now trending in Japan on social media.
That’s the power of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, friends. Just being associated with the game is enough to get yourself a good chunk of social media publicity.
Ah, Nintendo and Microsoft - they really have been the celebrity power couple of 2019, haven’t they? Both Cuphead’s triumphant Switch launch and the announcement that Ori and the Blind Forest is also on the way to the hybrid handheld were huge. These two lovingly crafted gems (from StudioMDHR and Moon Studios, respectively) were in Microsoft’s exclusive clutches, but it saw fit to share the love with Nintendo fans, who were certainly grateful.
Traditionally, of course, there’s been very little love lost between rivals in the gaming industry. Even since the days of "Genesis does what Nintendon’t," the big names have always been trying to find ways to undermine and out-do each other. When hatchets are buried and deals brokered, though, wonderful things can happen - things that would have seemed impossible just a short while ago.
Banjo-Kazooie in Smash, you say? Oh, yes. You’d better believe that’s the world we’re living in right now. If you don’t believe us, hop into some online matches in Smash Ultimate right now. You’ll find absolutely nothing but Banjo-Kazooie, owing to the fact that the character has just freshly released.
Needless to say, this whole situation is miraculous enough in and of itself. In the midst of all the excitement, though, you might have missed a moment in Sakurai’s livestream showcase of the character that’s making headlines all of its own.
As he did for Dragon Quest’s Hero, the Smash overlord hit us with a live gameplay demonstration of the character, which immediately followed yesterday’s Nintendo Direct. Along the way, he paused to mention the fact that the Banjo-Kazooie franchise is, of course, the property of Microsoft now. Interested viewers, he explained, can play the original game on the rival platform.
“I know this is a Nintendo broadcast, but please, give the game a try on Xbox,” Sakurai said. As Dot Esports reports, it was the simplest of shout outs, but it had a profound effect: Microsoft’s console was soon trending on Japanese social media. That may not sound like a major thing, but considering that Xbox has never really had much of a foothold in Japan, it’s great to see the system getting gamers’ attention there.
There we go, then. See what a little good-natured cooperation can do? The entire gaming industry could really do with keeping that in mind. Take note, Smash fans, as you enjoy getting to grips with Banjo-Kazooie and their unconventional playstyle.
Source: Dot Esports