Xbox 360 reaching for 1 million units in Japan

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Sep 23rd 2008 at 3:16PM }

A recent Edge Online article delves into Microsoft's persistent, price-slashing attempts to get the Xbox 360 into the hands and minds of Japanese consumers. With the system's sales sitting at 717,275 according to Enterbrain's last count, it seems Microsoft's first real milestone, while comparatively minor, may finally be within reach. "As an initial milestone, we would like to hit the one million mark as soon as possible, and are continuing to work hard to get to this milestone and go beyond," Xbox Japan boss Takashi Sensui told Edge.

Sensui adds that a successful strategy also hinges on going beyond a lineup of fancy RPGs -- though Tales of Vesperia's recent halo indicates that it can't hurt. "The core of the Xbox 360 business is made up of three elements: great titles, the best online service and accessible hardware," he said. "Now we have all three elements firmly in place, we believe that Japanese consumers will see what we have to offer and agree that it is the best option available."

Well, unless they want to play Final Fantasy XIII, which will be available on the Xbox 360 everywhere but Japan.

Tags: Japan, Microsoft, Takashi-Sensui, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Haggard (Mr.ESC resurrection force) @ Sep 23rd 2008 3:20PM

The 360 is never going to crack Japan. They should cut their losses and concentrate on making a great gaming experience for the west.

baby sea tuna @ Sep 23rd 2008 3:30PM

I still think that one the worst mistakes that MS made with the 360 (and they've made many,) was launching simultaneously in the US and Japan back in Nov 05. While Americans were busy clamoring for (and more importantly, fucking ROBBING people for) more 360s that X-Mas, there were literally thousands of them just gathering dust on shelves in Japan.

I seriously hope whoever's idea that "Worldwide Launch" was, got canned.

Massmass @ Sep 23rd 2008 6:04PM

While the 360 is likely to never gain a decent market share it is laying the groundwork for their next system. Microsoft is slowly breaking deep rooted taboos about Western Game Companies taking their business to Japan. Whether that's a good thing or not will be decided "Next Generation"

Cody @ Sep 23rd 2008 8:19PM

"While the 360 is likely to never gain a decent market share it is laying the groundwork for their next system."

Yeah, wasn't that what the first Xbox was supposed to do?

Haggard (Mr.ESC resurrection force) @ Sep 24th 2008 2:20PM

It worked in the west..

McWeen @ Sep 23rd 2008 3:27PM

Hurray for them I guess but I really only care if it means better/more games for the US.

Negativecool @ Sep 23rd 2008 3:28PM

It has taken them nearly three years to reach just over 700,000. They still have another 300,000 units to push. How long will it take to reach 1 million given the new 360 sales?
Sorry if that sounds like a cheesy math question, but I'm just curious as to what they think "as soon as possible" means in Japan.

Deric Lee @ Sep 23rd 2008 3:32PM

Good for them!

Wiinterfang @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:55PM

You avatar is pretty darn clever, while everybody here focused on putting the Mario cap on other characters you put another cap on Mario, Fucking Genius.

Ethan @ Sep 23rd 2008 6:05PM

I focused on putting another character on the mario hat.

verymetal @ Sep 23rd 2008 3:34PM

They could give these shits away for free over there and no one would seem to care.

Antagonist @ Sep 23rd 2008 3:44PM

Except for all those consumers who bought every single unit in the country when Tales of Vesperia was released of course.

rnr @ Oct 4th 2008 12:04AM

Sorry verymetal but you got totally owned. Do your research next time before acting like you know what you're talking about.

J.Goodwin @ Sep 23rd 2008 3:37PM

I'm not sure the Xbox even reached a million in Japan, so getting there would be a pretty significant achievement. Frankly, the number of at least AA (some AAA) titles coming out of Japan for 360, and the number of big million plus selling original titles that have come out of Capcom have justified whatever steps Microsoft had to take in terms of launching worldwide.

ComicShaman @ Sep 23rd 2008 3:42PM

I'm still not sure which is more important to Microsoft -- carving out a place in the Japanese market, or kneecapping Sony by acquiring key JRPG licenses. I tend to think the latter, though they have been working hard on both fronts.

Anyway, the way it stands right now in this generation, the X360 has the strongest RPG lineup. Maybe that changes in a few years, but I certainly never would've predicted it.

Evan @ Sep 23rd 2008 3:44PM

Sony's an idiot for not securing Tales of Vesperia for the PS3!

Instead of continuing the path of the PS2 with a strong mix of games, Sony has placed too much focus on competing with the Xbox in the Xbox's home court - hardcore shooters. And in the process, it's letting genres like JRPGs slip into the hands of the other consoles.

Negativecool @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:43PM

Yea. Stupid Sony focusing on the market that they don't dominate...which is exactly what Microsoft is doing by acquiring more JRPG exclusives.

What were they thinking?

Hala Madrid!! (PSWii60 Defense Force) @ Sep 23rd 2008 3:45PM

Japanese and their JRPGs, some things never change.

Evan @ Sep 23rd 2008 3:54PM

Americans and their FPSs, some things never change.

Po Panda @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:00PM

Chinese and their MMO's, somethings never change.

Hala Madrid!! (PSWii60 Defense Force) @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:06PM

I know right? Those Americans really love to shoot things.

F1 @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:23PM

Wii and their shovelware, somethings never change.

Jtenma @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:41PM

I'll put it like this:

Over here (US), do Fps's sell? Yes.
Do RPG's sell? Hell yes.

Over there (Japan), do RPG's sell? Hell muthafukin yes.
So FPS's sell? You are out of your Goddamned mind!

And it is not just fps's that do not sell either, you all know what I'm talking about...Only Gundam games and RPG's sell well (and apparently the DW series as well).

But in the US it is a totally different story, if the game is good, it will sell...most of the time anyway.

Evan @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:55PM

@Jtenma
That's not true... baseball games also sell very well in Japan. Rhythm games, puzzle games, fighting games, and all things Pokemon have all appeared on Japan's best selling software lists.

Titanium_Orchid @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:03PM

Koreans and their Starcrafts, some things never change.

Titanium_Orchid @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:03PM

shit

Fenix @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:05PM

Joystiq and their shitty comments system, some things never change.

Po Panda @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:14PM

LOL!

Vidikron @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:27PM

Well played, Fenix.

Titanium_Orchid @ Sep 23rd 2008 6:56PM

this was our plan all along... yea....

Mr Khan @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:25PM

1 million is more significant over there, says Captain Obvious, pointing out there 2/5 sized population

Only 1 GC game sold 1 million + in Japan, out of the many million-sellers it had

DigDug @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:45PM

So at 840 units a week,
http://www.n4g.com/NewsCom-197068.aspx?CT=1

that 300,000 will take: 336 weeks (6.5 years). I won't hold my breath...

Gun Barrier @ Sep 23rd 2008 6:10PM

that link is from 2 weeks ago. Are u a time traveler?

Si @ Sep 23rd 2008 6:16PM

@Gun Barrier

WHo cares it was 2 weeks old. It's fact. that week Xbox sold 840 consoles in Japan, at that rate it will take 6.5 years to reach 1m consoles...

Sorry that the 360 is so shit, than old dumbass Americans buy them, but facts is facts...

Catprog @ Sep 23rd 2008 6:45PM

what about the 360?

josh @ Sep 23rd 2008 9:54PM

the reason it matters is that last week they sold over 25,000 360s in Japan.

josh @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:02PM

and to further explain, the reason it matters is because you can't take one isolated week's data and come to any sort of conclusion.

one week, the 360 sold 840. at that rate it would take 6.5 years to hit the million mark.

however, just a week later, it sold 25,000+. at that rate it would take just a few months to hit the million mark.

however, neither one of those statements has ANY MERIT WHATSOEVER, since the 360 is unlikely to maintain sales at either of those numbers... instead, it will rise and fall due to demand, supply, game releases, etc.

DigDug @ Sep 24th 2008 3:00AM

@josh

Which is why Microsofts constant barrange of "sales have risn risen xx percentage since price cut" nonsense is pure bullshit. These numbers are all based on 1 week sales samples.

I don't see Microsoft posting press releases 99% of the rest of the time, when sales drop over previous weeks.

However this news fools the trailer-park lovin 360 owners...

jquadman @ Sep 24th 2008 9:52AM

@DigDug

Wait, are you implying that MS is trying to put a positive spin on its own product? NO WAY!!!!

Josh made a valid point countering your 840 units a week nonsense and you come back with a completely unrelated argument?

Also, invariably, people who live in trailers do not love them.

Brett from Atlanta @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:59PM

Are these sales numbers? I'm pretty sure a lot of people over there buy the console for a game, beat the game and then sell it back. I don't think that you can use sales numbers to represent the install base of the 360 when it comes to Japan. Anyone want to clarify?

JRM @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:51PM

Where I live in Japan, I've seen a lot of used DSs, PS3s, some PSPs, for sale. But I've never seen any used 360s--in fact, I barely see more than 10 games on the shelf while the DS has like 4 complete racks all to itself. ditto for the PS2.

Si @ Sep 23rd 2008 6:12PM

@JRM

You never see any used 360's in Japan for two simple reasons.

1/ They have sold so few of them. You are more likely to find rocking horse sh1t.

2/ Any that were sold have long since failed and gone for landfill.

JRM @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:45PM

Talk about setting your sights low. I remember when the 360 launched, they said Japan would need to be very strong, and keep up with the Sonys and Nintendos.

one million in 3 years is not very strong, considering one million pokemon games sold in two weeks!