TGS 2001 Fall: Shenmue II and PSO confirmed for the Xbox

Sega of Japan announced further support for the Microsoft Xbox at the ongoing Tokyo Game Show 2001. The company will release Shenmue II and an Xbox port of Phantasy Star Online in 2002. Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft has secured the rights to market, sell, and distribute the only version of Shenmue II for the US market. The game will not be released on the Sega Dreamcast. Sega said in making the decision to bring Shenmue II to the Xbox, the company is looking to Microsoft to deliver signifant marketing prominence and exposure for the franchise.

"This agreement with Microsoft will give Shenmue II and Phantasy Star Online the marketing prominence and increased awareness that the titles deserve, while giving Sega access to significant incremental revenue as we work toward profitability goals for this fiscal year and onward," said Peter Moore, president and COO, Sega of America. "We expect that both titles will be killer apps on the Xbox and that the technical capabilities of the platform will surely bring both games to new levels in terms of graphics and experience."

"Sega is known for making some of the best games in the business, and Shenmue and Phantasy Star Online are truly some of the best titles the industry has to offer," said Robbie Bach, chief Xbox officer for Microsoft. "We are fully committed to working with Sega and Yu Suzuki's team to ensure that Shenmue II takes advantage of all that the Xbox has to offer, to deliver gamers an even more revolutionary game than the first."

GameSpot will have more soon.