Next-gen game over already for Xbox 360 in Japan?

When Microsoft launched the Xbox 360 in Japan last year it hoped things were going to get better for its games business in the country. The market, home of Sony's PlayStation console, had already proved to be a tough one for Microsoft, with the original Xbox thoroughly outsold by the PlayStation 2. Nevertheless, it thought that the early start the 360 had over the PlayStation 3 would give it the upper hand in the next round of the video game wars.

After all, the Xbox 360 was the first next-generation console to launch. It was the first to support high-definition games and it debuted when HDTV sales were booming. Microsoft had also brought in some big-name Japanese game developers to produce games with greater appeal to a local audience.

[Marty8370]

X360 not having a sizable chuck of the Japanese market could put X360 in last place nex gen.

[TheXgamerLive]

Japan is only a small part of it and I wanna say and i promise that the XBOX 360 will improve greatly in sales by mid spring 2007 based on the upcoming games so it's ok that japan will be the slow stepchild to come round. The rest of the world will be playing with the "Power of the X" and a few will be bottlenecking with the uhmm power of the ps3, lol !!!!!

[Dick Jones]

They figure that out all by themeselves? Or just repeating whats been said even before 360 launched?

[AIan]

I remember hearing a MS person say YES Japan is important but we just released in India and China... both have a BILLION people... Japan is only a slice of the pie.... People put too much importance in Japan.

[Daewoodrow]

Microsoft know that japan rejecting the console will not hurt console sales in the long run. They'll just reduce the number of consoles shipping there accordingly. They just want to put pressure on the PS3 on its own turf, that's the only reason they still support the region.

[omansteveo]

From stories ive read over the las couple months the Japanese gamking market has been on a constent decline over the last couple years and doesnt seem to be getting better despite with some exceptions like the DS lite doing very well but they seem to be losing intrest. IMO the company that taps into and conquers the Asia market will be dominate this generation with MMO's booming like no other there, and predictions of a billion gamers there in the next couple years Asia is the foreseeable future and people better be ready for it

[mikeeno7]

Surprisingly, India and South Korea videogaming industries are booming. Microsoft need to tap into these markets and take the first move while they can.

[Unknownunknown]

Blue Dragon is the first real test of how well the 360 will do in Japan and guess what? It hasn't released yet. That game will sell the 360 in Japan no questions.

Sakaguchi, Toriyama, Uematsu = hit in japan and a major worldwide hit.

[Say's you]

Your just lieing to him you douche bag knowing that your just another retarded "boner" and plus like the rest of the world would play with the "X" when you know the real truth that the rest of the region would play with the big "P" dumbass lol knowing you alway's do lie XGamer

what a total douche bag!.

[Marty8370]

Ha ha,flopbox360.

[Marty8370]

X360 has been 8-9 months in the jap market and has only sold 200,000 consoles,It shows how bad the X360 is when its the only nex gen in the Jap market and M$ still can't sell it too the Japs.