The developnt of the handheld console still had a long way to go.
First of all, negotiating with processor manufacturers for the console's chip orders would be a ti-consuming process.
As technology advanced, the number of viable processor manufacturers had beco increasingly limited. Only a few could be considered suitable partners for the future Switch.
And Takayuki's requirents were, as always, demanding.
The chip had to be open-source, easy to develop for, and highly compatible with gas.
At the sa ti, it had to be affordable.
It didn't need to be the most powerful processor—just the most stable.
He left the matter entirely to the engineering team and waited patiently for the final result.
...
Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core was nearing completion and was expected to launch in October—well within the deadline.
Takayuki spent the remaining ti overseeing the final stages of developnt in the Fifth Developnt Team's office.
Crisis Core was one of the flagship titles. While its production cost wasn't extrely high—around $30 million—it was still a project poured with great care and effort.
"President, you have a call. It's Bob from Facebook."
At that mont, Takayuki was monitoring the final progress to ensure there would be no last-minute mistakes. His assistant approached, handing him the phone.
Bob?
Takayuki took the call.
"Hello? Bob, what's going on?"
"Mr. Takayuki, I'm on a plane heading to Japan. I should be seeing you very soon."
"Huh? What are you coming for?" Takayuki was surprised. This guy was supposed to be the hotshot back in the U.S., with all kinds of businesses booming. He shouldn't have ti to co over.
"I was actually planning to go to China to explore so new business ventures. But since I'd be passing by Japan, I thought it would be rude not to see you."
"You're going to China? To expand your business?"
"That's right!" Bob's tone was filled with excitent. "There are over a billion people in China—the most populous country in the world. The country is rising rapidly, and its tech sector is growing fast. Their internet ecosystem is taking shape. My advisors and I have studied this for a long ti, and we believe China could be our next big growth point. So I wanted to show my sincerity by personally flying there for negotiations."
Takayuki understood.
It reminded him of what had happened in the original world.
In that world, Facebook also had ambitions to enter the Chinese market.
Theoretically, as Mark Zuckerberg saw it, the massive population would be an incredible opportunity. If handled properly, Facebook could've grown exponentially with that market.
But the problem was—Facebook wanted to enter without following China's rules.
China had always been open to foreign internet companies, but only if they followed local laws. No matter how many benefits those companies offered, if they refused to comply with the regulations, they wouldn't be allowed in. That was a clear line in the sand.
Those who respected the rules, however, generally did quite well—Apple being the most obedient example in the original world. They willingly handed over data managent rights to the Chinese governnt and focused only on product sales, never getting involved in anything beyond that.
This helped Apple grow steadily and beco a household na in China.
Hearing Bob now, Takayuki suspected history might repeat itself.
But it wasn't really his concern. The Chinese market wasn't sothing just anyone could conquer.
Even with ambition, foreign companies often faced massive cultural and market differences in Asia, especially between Western and Eastern practices. Many failed simply due to "culture shock."
In Japan, Facebook would have never made inroads without Takayuki's help. But since he owned 30% of Facebook's shares, it was essentially like being Facebook's half-parent. That made the Japanese governnt more lenient, even supportive.
After all, 30% of the value was considered "local."
"China, huh? That's quite the formidable market. Are you sure you can succeed?"
Bob remained excited. "We've been researching for almost a month straight. It's definitely one of the key growth markets. And with personally handling the talks as CEO, I think our chances are pretty high."
Takayuki didn't offer much opinion. "Well, good luck."
"Um... Mr. Takayuki, do you have any advice?" Bob asked awkwardly.
He had partly brought this up because he hoped Takayuki might offer insight.
These days, whenever he had to make a big decision, he subconsciously wanted to consult Takayuki. His advice had always been eerily accurate. If he could get Takayuki's input on China, maybe he could avoid so major pitfalls.
Takayuki shook his head. "I don't have much advice. I'm not that familiar with the market."
In truth, he knew a lot. But he had no intention of interfering with history.
To him, Facebook was more like a stepchild—just a financial backup. His 30% stake was a rainy-day fund.
That fund was now massive.
In the original tiline, Facebook had failed to break into the Chinese market. Even if he altered the tiline slightly, it would likely still be a thankless endeavor. Local companies there were incredibly competitive. Outsiders often couldn't compete.
Bob, not hearing what he'd hoped for, felt a bit disappointed. But it wasn't a big deal. He would just play it by ear.
He was confident. At this point, he was well-known globally. He believed his reputation alone would be enough to sway China and open up that massive market.
"Mr. Takayuki, I'll be arriving in Japan shortly. Shall we catch up in person?"
"Feel free. Co by if you want—I'll have soone pick you up."
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