Director Kojima’s Surprise Appearance Sent Excitement Soaring! We Attended “Xbox FanFest Tokyo,” a Gathering of Japanese Xbox Fans [Feature]

On September 17, Microsoft Japan hosted the “XBOX FanFest Tokyo” fan event at Terada Warehouse B&C HALL in Shinagawa. Here’s a look at the event, which drew a large crowd despite its long duration.

The venue was a sea of green! Popular titles like “Minecraft Dungeons II” and “Forza Horizon 6” were on display

The venue was located next to the Tennozu Canal, giving it a somewhat relaxed atmosphere. Inside, the space was illuminated with green lighting reminiscent of Xbox, and while it was set up with demo stations and chairs for talk events, it still felt spacious enough.On the first floor, in addition to the *Minecraft Dungeons II* exhibit, there was the “Xbox 25th Anniversary Eras Lounge,” featuring a lineup of classic Xbox titles celebrating the 25th anniversary, as well as a staircase leading to the second floor.

What particularly caught my eye on the first floor was the “Xbox 25th Anniversary Eras Lounge” corner, featuring Xbox 360 consoles and iconic titles from that era.Xbox controllers in various colors were displayed on the walls, and shelves were lined with titles released over the years. In addition to exhibits that allowed visitors to look back on the history of Xbox, there was also a space where they could actually play games. A comfortable seating area was set up for playing games, and titles such as *CoD: MW* and *MSFS2024* were available for hands-on play.

After looking back on Xbox’s history on the first floor, I headed up to the second floor, where *Forza Horizon 6* was available to play. Additionally, there was a photo spot for the *Fable* reboot—which also doubled as a mini-game where you could kick chickens into a hole—and fans were enjoying taking commemorative photos there.Beyond the games, there were thoughtful touches throughout the event designed to let fans enjoy the experience itself, such as light snacks shaped like the Xbox logo served to attendees.

From talk shows recounting Xbox’s history to showcase watch parties!

Shortly after the doors opened, the event’s main talk show began. Following the opening remarks, a session titled “25 Years of Xbox History in 25 Minutes” took place.

Larry Horb, on 25 Years of Xbox

Larry Horb, also known as Major Nelson, took the stage for this session and looked back on the history of Xbox. For Horb, the keyword that sums up the past 25 years of Xbox is “JOY.”Reflecting on the launch of the original Xbox in 2002, he said, “I was filled with immense happiness.” He noted that although the team at the time was small, they had big ambitions.

Among the many events over those 25 years, he cited the launch of the original Xbox console and the launch of Xbox Live as particularly memorable. He noted that Xbox Live, in particular, allowed people who had previously had little experience connecting to networks for home gaming to play with people all over the world.He then picked up the box for the “Xbox Live Starter Kit” for the original Xbox and showed the contents, which included a headset and other accessories.

For Herb, what was particularly significant was the realization of a dream he’d held since those early days: that people around the world would connect as a community and enjoy games together. On the other hand, the original Xbox was also Microsoft’s first console. As a result, he said there was a lot of trial and error on the hardware side as well.He reflected that, starting with the massive “DUKE” controller, they learned from user feedback on products actually released to the market and began developing more suitable controllers.

The conversation then shifted to the audience, and the moderator asked, “How many of you have actually held the original Xbox?” Roughly half the audience raised their hands, indicating that many fans who had experienced the original Xbox firsthand were in attendance.

When asked about Japanese Xbox titles, Mr. Herb cited *Tekki*, *Panzer Dragoon Alta*, and *Jet Set Radio Future*, among others. He noted that the existence of these titles suggests they were able to build deep relationships with Japanese game developers as early as the original Xbox era.

As the era shifted to the Xbox 360, he said he had the impression that Japan was a region where developers were producing numerous innovative titles.

He also expressed delight that indie games released on Xbox Live Arcade, among other things, served as a catalyst for an era where developers could freely create new types of gameplay. The success of the Xbox 360 era was influenced not only by great games and systems but also significantly by the experience gained from the original Xbox and feedback from the community.In particular, he noted that features such as the friends list, messaging, achievements, and parties played a major role in adding an element of “connecting with others” to what had previously been a solitary gaming experience. He reflected on how these connections became more widespread and communities began to form as one of the defining developments of the Xbox 360 era.

When asked which titles were most important to him in Japan during the Xbox 360 era, Mr. Herb cited the exclusive titles *Tales of Vesperia* and *Lost Odyssey*, noting that the presence of talented development teams in Japan—and the diverse experiences they created—was a major factor.

The conversation then shifted to the Xbox One generation. Herb reflected that backward compatibility was a major factor symbolizing this generation. Meanwhile, when asked, “What does Xbox mean to you?” he replied that he hopes to continue enjoying games and that this will lead to meeting many new people.

The final question was, “If you could say something to that small team from 25 years ago, what would it be?” He advised them never to forget that the player is at the center of everything, and that whenever they lose their way, they should first look to the players. Furthermore, he said that players will always let you know what they want, so they should listen carefully to their feedback.He concluded the session by saying, “Some truly amazing things are going to happen in the future, so please look forward to them.”

XBOX Tokyo Game Show 2026 Broadcast

Afterward, a watch party for the “XBOX Tokyo Game Show 2026 Broadcast” was held.

Rather than simply watching the showcase via an online stream while chatting, this format—where fans gathered at the venue shared their reactions in real time—felt particularly fresh, as it was something not commonly seen in Japan.The biggest reactions came during the scene in the *Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4* trailer featuring Mads Mikkelsen, as well as during Sega’s *Crazy Taxi: World Tour*. There was also a huge reaction from the audience when *Persona 4 Revival* was introduced.

Toward the end of the showcase, as the latest updates on *OD* and *PHYSINT* were revealed, the excitement in the venue reached new heights. When Director Kojima made a surprise appearance on stage, a collective gasp of awe filled the room, marking one of the event’s most electrifying moments.

“Minecraft Dungeons II”

After the watch party concluded, a session for *Minecraft Dungeons II* took place. In addition to guest Larry Herb, Game Director Mons Olson and Production Director Nathan Rose took the stage.

The session took the form of a back-and-forth Q&A, with the moderator, guests, and event attendees taking turns asking questions. Here are a few of the questions that stood out.

In response to the question, “What inspired you to create a dungeon RPG title based on ‘Minecraft’?” they explained that while “Minecraft” is packed with various gameplay elements—such as combat, exploration, and crafting—their curiosity was sparked by wondering what kind of experience it would create if they focused on and refined just one of those elements.

While carving out a new form of gameplay from *Minecraft* in this way, there are also challenges unique to the series. When asked, “What are the challenges of making an action RPG?” he replied, “*Minecraft Dungeons II* is a huge challenge, but at the same time, *Minecraft* is an IP loved around the world.

Because of this, it’s not just a game for the developers—we’re constantly mindful that it’s ‘Minecraft’ for users all over the world, and we felt a sense of mission to never stray from the framework of ‘What is Minecraft?’”Furthermore, he explained that whenever introducing new elements, they seriously consider whether they are appropriate for *Minecraft*, and conversely, they carefully consider—one by one, every time—how elements from the original game can be adapted for *Dungeons*.

In response to the question, “What were the key areas of evolution in the second game, and how did you incorporate user feedback?” he explained that during development, they made detailed adjustments—right down to the UI—based on user feedback. He noted that the new “jump” mechanic alone can change the flow of the game, and added that features like jump attacks have been polished to feel satisfying.Another point is that, during local co-op play, players can now open a mini-inventory, allowing them to continue their adventure while playing.

During the *Minecraft Dungeons II* session, they also answered questions submitted by attendees toward the end of the event. One question that stood out was, “Do you have any plans for games in other genres using *Minecraft*?”In response, he said that while he personally has various ideas, he thinks every day about how to expand the *Minecraft* universe—both for the team and for the players. Afterward, the event moved on to its closing segment, featuring a *Fallout 76* quiz challenge.

From the “Fallout 76” Quiz Challenge to the Announcement of the Fan-Voted Popular Title Rankings

Toward the end of this Xbox Fan Fest TOKYO talk event, a *Fallout 76* quiz challenge was held.The quiz itself featured a variety of questions, ranging from general ones like the first question, “When is Vault 76’s re-opening date?” to more in-depth ones like the fifth question, “Which ability does the ‘L’ in S.P.E.C.I.A.L. represent?”—all of which entertained the audience.

In particular, Question 8—“Name all seven attributes that make up S.P.E.C.I.A.L.”—proved challenging, with few participants getting it right at first. However, when a participant finally listed all seven attributes correctly, it underscored that this was an event that even attracted hardcore fans.

In addition to the quiz contest, various other events took place at the venue, including the “Favorite Item Challenge,” where participants could win collaboration items with IKEA, and the announcement of the results for “Find the Xbox Logo!,” a game where participants searched for Xbox logos hidden throughout the venue to win prizes. The final event was a “Favorite Game Countdown” conducted by the fans in attendance.

The results were: 5th place, *Minecraft*; 4th place, the *Fallout* series; 3rd place, the *Gears of War* series; 2nd place, the *Forza Horizon* series; and 1st place, the *Halo* series.

The venue erupted in applause and cheers every time a ranking was announced, with the excitement reaching a fever pitch especially when *Gears of War*, *Forza Horizon*, and *Halo*—titles that represent Microsoft—made the list. The rankings truly conveyed just how much the fans in attendance love Xbox titles.

Finally, when Larry Herb was asked to share a message, he formed a heart shape with his hands to express his feelings toward the fans, and the event came to a close.