If you remember the launch of the Xbox One back in November 2013, you might recall that the release of the console was delayed in Japan significantly - it didn't arrive until September of the next year.
Fortunately, there won't be any such delays this time around, as Microsoft has confirmed to Japanese outlet Game Watch that the Xbox Series X will be available in Japan around the same time as other major markets (thanks The Verge).
The Xbox One has never been a big success in Japan, but Phil Spencer and his team have made big efforts to appeal to the Japanese market in recent times, including launching Xbox Game Pass in the region earlier this year, and recently adding the Yakuza series and Dragon Quest to the Game Pass line-up.
Hopefully the simultaneous launch will go a long way to boosting interest this time around!
Pleased to see the Xbox Series X getting a November release in Japan? Share your thoughts below.
[source game.watch.impress.co.jp, via theverge.com]
Comments 14
Man i wish Xbox could breakout in japan like PS4 and Switch..
@Bmartin001 They are very averse to hardware from other nations sadly. Even PS4 struggles vs switch, they are obsessed with portability.
I think Xcloud will break out over there once they release it though.
@Jaxx420 I'm thinking both PS5 and XSX will have issues in the Asian markets due to the size of the consoles. Having xcloud and the razor Kishi controller is the big play fot MS in Asia as mobile gaming is massive there.
Like small things over there and portable things.
The only way they would succeed over there is with game pass on the mobile phone market.
It’s good to have the box there even if no one will buy it. You don’t want to be rude. I’d say they need to make sure xCloud is there more because whilst I see no interest in the XSX, I see some in xCloud.
i'm sure all 11 people who plan to buy it in Japan are very excited.
This news made 10 people happy...
In all seriousness though I think it's a waste of time going after the Japanese Market as they love their JRPG's and anime games which are only on playstation and lately the switch, plus Japan are more of an handheld nation aswell and are infatuated with Nintendo at the moment that even the ps5 is going to struggle for numbers
Unfortunately, Microsoft does not support Japanese for recent game titles such as Wasteland 3, Sea of Thieves, and Microsoft Flight Simulator.
The Xbox Game Pass also does not include games like Final Fantasy, Monster Hunter, or Kindom Hearts in Japan.
This makes for a very different experience from Xbox fans in other countries.
Why bother with Japan release? The Xbox One sells like 30 unit per week.
I respect Microsoft’s attempt at the Japanese market, even if it’ll never work. Even Sony struggles over there to beat the Switch.
@Jaxx420 "They are very averse to hardware from other nations sadly"
Sounds racist to me.... Who cares, I love sushi.
@sixrings it’s not racist. Japanese are just a special kind of people who were isolated for too long. They only trust a foreign product when it is by far better than a Japanese product. For instance Apple is loved by Japanese.
People also like LG TVs, but you won’t find any Samsung TV here, people don’t buy their TVs.
Convenience and trust are far more important than “specs”. A company name is more important than the quality of its products, if the company has a good reputation.
@Jaxx420 that’s not entirely true. Apple hardware is very popular in Japan. Xbox problems in Japan are many, lack of a gaming library that appeals to the local audience is a big part of it. This is one of the reasons MS needs to own some Japanese studios (multiple) be them acquired or built from the ground up. It’s a shame that when Atlus was up for grabs, MS didn’t go for them.
@Tharsman That's exactly true. Games matter more than a console. And Sony appears to ramp up production of Anime-style games. So it will be a tough one for Xbox. Maybe Microsoft can play the Yakuza 7 card right to get more sales at the start. But then again, Japan loves Marvel, so Spider-Man is a big name advantage in the Japanese market. You go to USJ (Universal Studios Japan) and can see that the Spider-Man attraction is one of the favourites there.
Anyway, I was worried the other day about PS5/XSX releasing later than the rest of the world once again. But with XSX releasing November in Japan, Sony will have no choice but to do the same for Japan. So that's good news for me.
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