Konami Confirms MGS X for Xbox

Konami of Japan announced today that it will develop several high-profile games for the Microsoft Xbox and other next-generation consoles. The major announcement was the confirmation of Metal Gear Solid X for the Xbox. It will be a port of the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 2, which signifies an end to the brief console exclusivity of the franchise. The other games being published by Konami on the Xbox console include Jurassic Park X, Crash Bandicoot X, Silent Hill X, and a game based on director John Carpenter's The Thing.

Crash Bandicoot X, Jurassic Park X, and The Thing are all part of an agreement announced last December between Konami and Universal Interactive Studios. UIS, who holds the licensing rights to all three franchises, will develop the games for next-generation platforms, including the PS2 and the Xbox. Additionally, the two companies plan to develop and publish those games on portable and cell phones, and perhaps even online.

The Thing is based on the classic movie and will be in the action-adventure genre. The video game begins where the original movie left off and mixes sci-fi and horror elements. "The Thing is a phenomenal franchise that gamers have been requesting for a long time," said Jim Wilson, senior vice president and general manager of Universal Interactive Studios. "This franchise presents an incredible opportunity to draw upon Universal's rich movie history and today's technology to create a one-of-a-kind gaming experience."

Jurassic Park X is based on the upcoming movie, Jurassic Park III, which will be released in theatres in the summer of 2001. Konami and UIS did not reveal any gameplay details at this time, but the game will be released on other next-generation platforms, including the PlayStation 2. "With Universal Interactive Studios' success in creating best-selling action games, they are perfectly suited to take this valuable franchise forward to the area of next-generation interactive games," said Brad Globe, head of Amblin and Dreamworks Consumer Products Groups.

Crash Bandicoot X will also appear on the PlayStation 2 console, along with versions for the Xbox and other next-generation consoles. Once again, no specific gameplay information was released. However, this will mark the first time that Crash will appear on anything other than a Sony console. "Crash Bandicoot is one of the most successful character action franchises. Konami is delighted to publish the game as a partner to Universal Interactive Studios with our strategic alliance," said Kazumi Kitaue, director of the consumer software division for Konami Corporation.

With this announcement, Konami positions itself as one of the major Xbox publishers representing the Japanese market. It joins companies such as Capcom, Bandai, Hudson, and Treasure as the primary Xbox developers in Japan.