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

S-GAME Responds to the ControversyNobody Needs Xbox, Media Outlets Say

S-GAME, the developers behind Phantom Blade Zero and Black Myth: Wukong, finally issued a statement on Twitter(X) addressing assertions made by an anonymous source. Multiple media outlets in attendance at the ChinaJoy 2024 event last week reported on the alleged Phantom Blade Zero developer who made contentious statements towards Xbox.

The studio issued a statement on Twitter(x), reaffirming their dedication to making the game widely available.

"These claimed statements do not represent S-GAME’s values or culture," the statement reads. "We believe in making our game accessible to everyone and have not ruled out any platforms for Phantom Blade Zero. We are hard at work on both the development and publishing fronts to ensure that as many players as possible can enjoy our game at release and in the future."

The dispute started with an anonymous claim—allegedly from a Phantom Blade Zero developer—in a Chinese publication. Fan translations read "no one shows any interest in Xbox." This spread, with sites like Aroged reporting Xbox as "an unrequested platform, particularly in Asia." However, Brazilian outlet Gameplay Cassi misinterpreted this as "nobody needs this platform" when referencing Aroged.

S-GAME's response neither confirmed nor refuted the anonymous source. Yet, their assertion holds some merit. Xbox's Asian popularity significantly trails PlayStation and Nintendo. In Japan, Xbox Series X|S sales barely reached half a million units in over four years, compared to the PS5's million units sold in 2021 alone.

The platform's accessibility in much of Asia also poses a challenge. In 2021, Southeast Asia lacked official Xbox retail support, with only Singapore offering consoles, games, and accessories. Other Southeast Asian retailers thus relied on foreign suppliers for their Xbox stock.

The dispute intensified with conjecture of an exclusive agreement between S-GAME and Sony. While the studio previously admitted receiving development and marketing aid from Sony in a June 8 interview with a Chinese content creator, they have since refuted claims of an exclusive arrangement. In their Summer 2024 Developer Update, S-GAME emphasized that "in addition to PlayStation 5, we’re planning to release it to PC as well."

Although the studio has not confirmed an Xbox release, their recent reply to the dispute leaves the door ajar for the possibility of the game arriving on the said platform.