Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
.hack//Link
Category:
News

CyberConnect2 Reveals Why .hack//Link Was Never Released in The West

Back in 2010, Bandai Namco released .hack//Link for PSP in Japan, developed by CyberConnect2, but it never came west.
Image of Giuseppe Nelva
Giuseppe Nelva
|

Published: Jan 10, 2021 02:37 pm

Back in 2010, Bandai Namco (then called Namco Bandai) released .hack//Link for PSP in Japan, developed by CyberConnect2, but it never came west.

Recommended Videos

The developer‘s vocal president Hiroshi Matsuyama took to YouTube to explain not only why the game was released on PSP intead of PS2 or PS3, but also why it never came west.

The choice of platform boils down to the success of the PSP in Japan, as the possibility of a worldwide release was pretty much an afterthought back then.

The game also had a more approachable concept compared to its predecessor in order to tempt younger players to try the franchise after its existing fanbase had gotten older.

As for why the game was never localized, it’s actually pretty simple. Bandai Namco’s American and European arms didn’t want it because it was for PSP PSP, which wasn’t a very successful platform in the west.

Matsuyama mentioned that, in hindsight, the developer should have probably reconsidered the choice of platform.

You can watch the video below, making sure to activate subtitles.

At the moment, there is no indication that the .hack series may see a revival, even if I certainly hope so.

On the other hand, CyberConnect2 is currently working on a  Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba game for PS4, which should come this year.

Twinfinite is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
related content
Author
Image of Giuseppe Nelva
Giuseppe Nelva
Proud weeb hailing from sunny (not as much as people think) Italy and long-standing gamer since the age of Mattel Intellivision and Sinclair ZX Spectrum. Definitely a multi-platform gamer, he still holds the old dear PC nearest to his heart, while not disregarding any console on the market. RPGs (of any nationality), MMORPGs, and visual novels are his daily bread, but he enjoys almost every other genre, prominently racing simulators, action and sandbox games. He is also one of the few surviving fans on Earth of the flight simulator genre.
twitter facebook