Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Magna Carta II sort of gets a 360 Bundle in Japan

Most JRPGs get an Xbox 360 bundle in Japan. Makes sense, right? Most Japanese gamers don't own a 360, and if they want to pick one up when an RPG comes out, may as well get them together, right?

Well, in keeping with tradition, Microsoft dropped word today that they will be offering a bundle deal with Namco Bandai and Softmax's upcoming Xbox 360 RPG, Magna Carta II. Typically, the bundles include a 360 unit, a copy of the game, and a limited faceplate, all in a themed box. Magna Carta II, however, will be forgoing the themed box, and offering the faceplate as a gift to buyers who pick up the console and a copy of the game at the same time.

Why Microsoft and Namdai chose to pass on the actual bundle remains open to speculation, but my highly educated guessing powers conclude that Magna Carta II, though awesome-looking, probably isn't going to win enough new fans to justify a whole new package.

On the upside, this allows anyone who was planning on getting a 360 bundle to pick which console SKU they prefer and still snag the faceplate. No themed box though. You win some, you lose some, I guess.

Oh, and in case you forgot, Japanese pre-orders for the game come with an artbook. So there's that too.

Magna Carta II will be available for Xbox 360 on August 6, 2009 in Japan, and sometime this year during Q3 here in North America.

[Xbox Japan]

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