Xbox 360 in June at last hit a new milestone, 1.5 million units sold in Japan since debuting back in 2005, and this year sales have seen fall almost 47% as the Microsoft product has been bought by only 72,721 units (according to Media Create). This sparks the word from Japan is that many retailers are looking at inventory and deciding whether or not to even put Xbox 360 on their stock anymore.
Geo, for instance, which is among one of Japan’s biggest specialist retailers, is set to scaling back its Xbox 360 business. Even worse, electronics retailer Yamada Denki in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, announced that the company is throwing off 360 hardware and software from the most of its stores nationwide, and the strategy is to move everything that has been left at a huge discount.
At other smaller, specialist stores, Xbox 360 consoles and games are now commonly found in bargain bins, selling Xbox 360 titles for as little as ¥100 (about $1.30). There was even a store selling the Halo: Reach hardware bundle for ¥9,980 (just $130).
Microsoft was never in a decent position in Japan, where gamers typically choose games and hardware from Japanese firms such as Sony and Nintendo, but the problems arised for the Xbox business has never looked worse. The company hasn’t give a response on the chaotic situation and reaction from retailers, but as recently as July, Microsoft did make a separate Interactive Entertainment unit in Japan, headed by Takashi Sensui.
Sensui has referenced that Kinect sales have flopped to really make a dent in Japan either, unlike in Western regions where Microsoft has seen great momentum from their peripheral, Kinect.
Microsoft is widely expected to launch a successor to Xbox 360 (Possibly, Xbox 720) in the next 2-3 years, and one has to wonder if the company should use their resources to investing in Japan at all in the next round when the gamers there have never been receptive to the brand or products.
Raaaar
Aug 16. 2011
Unfortunately Japan is a very zenophobic nation, and will favour its own brand over a U.S one. The U.S is also similar, though not to the extent of Japan.
Europe is the most ‘open-minded’ part of the world where people will simply just buy what they prefer, instead of worrying about what country they came from. The real battle of the consoles will take place there. The U.S will always favour the U.S console, and Japan will always favour the Japanese one (rigerously)!.
Europe sales of both consoles were/are strong. Though the PS3 is now coming out on top. I don’t believe people will buy up both consoles next time round though due to the lack of money people have nowadays. So the key question is, which next console will sell in Europe, and which will Flop? Sony’s or Microsofts’? This is entriley dependent on quality, value and price of product, so
May the best ‘team win!
james
Aug 16. 2011
I’m pretty sure MS is happy that they won the US over the PS3 and is creeping up to surpass the Wii as well.
So if faced with a choice of winning Japan or the US, I think both companies would rather reign supreme in the US.
Japan is losing it’s relevance in the big scheme of things… a market that they once easily dominated has been taken over by Western developers and games. Japan doesn’t even export half of the jrpg’s made anymore because no one buys them.
jas
Aug 16. 2011
agreed.
Michael
Aug 16. 2011
As a user, I only care about what they offer me. PS3 is the clear winner for the users. They are outselling 360 as well.
B
Aug 16. 2011
@james xbox 360 passing the wii in sales maybe in ypour dreams the xbox 360 has sold about 50 million units worldwide the wii has sold about 150 million units worldwide and is close to surpassing the ps3 as the best selling console of all time
B
Aug 16. 2011
ps2 not ps3 in that last sentence sorry
Steve
Aug 16. 2011
well, japan dont like fps, so the console that relies too much on fps will flop in japan
halo,gears,fps are flops in japan
also kinect which is saving the 360 sales in the west is flop in japan