S-GAME has finally addressed the controversial statement made by an anonymous source at ChinaJoy 2024. Discover the details of the uproar and the Phantom Blade developers’ response.

S-GAME Responds to the Controversy

Nobody Needs Xbox, Media Outlets Say

S-GAME, the creative force behind Phantom Blade Zero and Black Myth: Wukong, has taken to Twitter(X) to clarify a contentious remark attributed to an anonymous source during the ChinaJoy 2024 event. Various media outlets reported on the alleged statement from a Phantom Blade Zero developer, sparking widespread discussion.

In their statement, S-GAME firmly distanced themselves from the controversial remarks, emphasizing their dedication to broad accessibility for their games.

"These claimed statements do not represent S-GAME’s values or culture," the studio declared. "We are committed to ensuring that Phantom Blade Zero is available to as many players as possible across multiple platforms. Our team is diligently working on both the development and publishing aspects to make this a reality."

The controversy originated from an anonymous source, purportedly a developer on Phantom Blade Zero, whose comments were initially published in a Chinese news outlet. Fan translations of the statement suggested "no one shows any interest in Xbox," which was later misinterpreted by some international media as "nobody needs this platform."

S-GAME's response did not directly address the source's authenticity but acknowledged the underlying market realities. Xbox's presence in Asia, particularly in Japan, is notably less robust compared to PlayStation and Nintendo. Sales figures show Xbox Series X|S units sold in Japan barely reached half a million over four years, while the PS5 sold a million units in 2021 alone.

Additionally, the platform's availability in Southeast Asia has been limited, with Singapore being the only country with official retail support in 2021, forcing other regions to import through overseas wholesalers.

Rumors of an exclusive deal with Sony further fueled the controversy. While S-GAME confirmed receiving development and marketing support from Sony in a June 8 interview, they have since clarified that no exclusive partnership exists. Their Summer 2024 Developer Update confirmed plans for a release on PlayStation 5 and PC, leaving the possibility open for an Xbox release.

S-GAME's recent statement reaffirms their commitment to making Phantom Blade Zero accessible to a wide audience, hinting at potential future availability on Xbox.