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Microsoft Corp. today announced that Hironobu Sakaguchi, video game legend and president of Mistwalker game studio, has joined with Microsoft Game Studios to develop role-playing game (RPG) video games exclusively for the next-generation Xbox video game platform. Sakaguchi is best known as the creator of the Final Fantasy franchise, which has sold more than 60 million units worldwide, and was executive vice president in charge of game development at Square Enix Co., Ltd. until February 2001.

Citing a shared vision with Microsoft for the next generation of video games, Sakaguchi will lead the creation of two upcoming Xbox-exclusive RPG titles to be published by Microsoft Game Studios.

"Sakaguchi-san has taken role-playing games — traditionally a niche market — and introduced them to a broad and diverse audience across the globe," said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of Worldwide Marketing and Publishing at Microsoft. "We are ecstatic to work with Sakaguchi-san and celebrate what this news means not only for Xbox, but for gamers worldwide."

"I'm excited about the two epic game titles we will be developing," Sakaguchi said. "A number of talented creators have signed on to help develop these games, and I'm confident we will be able to create games that provide gamers with a new kind of thrill.

"Microsoft's cutting-edge technologies in the next-generation platform will allow me to bring to life an array of ideas that I have had for many years," Sakaguchi said. "I want these games to be alive with a new vision for gaming and vividly depict new characters that will transcend the game, find a place in the hearts of gamers, and make time spent with my games a fond and long-lasting memory."

Sakaguchi started his career at Square Co. Ltd. in 1986 as director of planning and development. He was promoted to executive vice president in 1991 and eventually ascended to president of Square LA Inc. (now Square USA Inc.) in 1995. In 2000, Sakaguchi was inducted into the coveted Academy of Interactive Arts & Science (AIAS) Hall of Fame for his groundbreaking work on the Final Fantasy series. In 2004, Sakaguchi announced that he had started his own development studio, called Mistwalker.

This will be awesome, I hope Mistwalker's RPGs have the same depth in their storys as Final Fantasy has had, and an interesting form of combat, interesting charcters, and of course stunning visuals.

As do I, i've been waiting a long time for the massive final fantasy RPG's came to Microsoft... The thing that i'm truthfully hoping for however, are games more like final fantasy 7/8 etc.. I'm hoping they dont do anything like final fantasy 11 for the xbox, or any type of massive online final fantasy games..

I'd rather they stuck with a really amazing one/two player plot.

I'm really looking forward to this however, i'm sure they've got some amazing ideas for features and such to throw in that havent been seen before.

I wonder, how long will it take before everyone working with sony will be weaseled into working soley for M$.

Who knows? Plus maybe the founders of Naughty Dog will join Microsoft and we'll get Jak 2 esqu platfomer. Yeah I'd hope for a 7/8 as they had to be some of the best out there with the themes they had...

An MMORPG wouldn't be bad, but I'd prefer there traditional style, I mean the Xbox has 1 Turn Based RPG and it's a load of crap, *shudders at the name Metal Dungeon*

*In america at least.

Damn them! DAAAAMN THEEEM!
Ok im done now...