Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice PS4 PlayStation 4

Activision was quite a surprising choice of publisher for FromSoftware's latest game, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The Japanese action game sticks out like a sore thumb among the publisher's portfolio, and some were worried about its involvement in the project. However, the game's director, Hidetaka Miyazaki, has stated that the developer is handling everything after the start screen, meaning it's in control of its own game.

As for Activision's input, marketing director Michelle Fonseca has told GamesIndustry that it's bringing financial support as well as a knowledge of marketing big games on a global scale. "We're obviously providing them with a number of resources. Whether its financial or just the infrastructure that we have. We know how to take big games to market. We know how to publish and market these games in the Western market, and in the eastern side... so using these resources helps to get the game in as many hands as possible and that's what we're here to do for these guys."

But why did FromSoftware decide to partner with Activision for Sekiro? The developer's community manager, Yasuhiro Kitao, explains that it was simply on board right from the start. "So initially when we had this project proposal we took it to a number of companies... We don't have the clout to publish outside of Asia and Japan, and so Activision was one of the companies we approached and one of the companies who said they would like to talk."

Kitao continues: "And they absolutely loved the idea; they loved the project right from the start. They really respected our vision, and also along the way they were able to provide user testing and feedback that we simple can't handle so it was really beneficial."

It does make some sense when you look at it this way. Activision is able to broaden the types of games it brings to market, and FromSoftware secures the support and know-how of one of the industry's top players. We can understand some of the concerns, but it sounds like From is very much in the driver's seat when it comes to the game's content.

[source gamesindustry.biz]