Microsoft Corp. announces that esteemed videogame developers Yoshiki Okamoto, president and CEO of Game Republic Inc., and Tetsuya Mizuguchi, chief creative officer and producer of Q Entertainment Inc., have aligned with Microsoft Game Studios to develop exclusive next-generation Xbox games.

For more than 20 years, Okamoto has been thrilling gamers with franchises such as [i]Street Fighter[/i] and [i]Resident Evil[/i].

“My goal in creating these games is to make completely fresh and riveting experiences that gamers have never had before,” Okamoto said. “With the next-generation Xbox platform, I can turn this vision into a reality.”

Mizuguchi, who founded Q Entertainment in 2003, is the creative force behind a litany of innovative blockbusters including [i]SEGA Rally Championship[/i], [i]Rez[/i] and [i]Space Channel 5[/i].

“By combining various factors, including exciting storylines, action,
graphics and music, I’ve created video games that have brought gamers the ultimate fun in gaming,” Mizuguchi said. “Now, I hope to create games that will give gamers the most emotional and thrilling gaming experience possible – joy, thrills, sympathy and speed. The power and advanced technologies of the next-generation Xbox platform will enable winning games with powerful emotions, high-quality graphics and sound.”

“We are excited for Mizuguchi-san and Okamoto-san to develop
next-generation Xbox games unlike anything the world has ever seen,” said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of Worldwide Marketing and Publishing for Microsoft. “Gamers will be riveted by the experiences enabled by such creators when given the proper canvas and tools.”