Japan retailers chuck the deuces to Xbox 360, sayonara?
Microsoft has had a long frustrating battle establishing itself in Japan. You can way way way back to the original Xbox to document the poor performance that Microsoft’s console has had in the region. Japanese gamers just seem determined to ignore what the Xbox 360 has to offer even when Microsoft dished out several “fan favorites” recently.
In a report from EDGE, several Japanese retail chains have begun eliminating the Xbox 360 from their shelves. After taking nearly 6 years to crack the million sold mark in Japan, retailers are saying enough is enough. Losing popular exclusives, poor sales … each playing a factor in the decision to ultimately begin its exit strategy.
Geo, the nation’s largest specialist retailer, is drastically scaling back its Xbox 360 business, and staff at electronics retailer Yamada Denki in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, confirmed that the company is removing hardware and software from the majority of its stores nationwide, and is selling off its remaining stock at a heavy discount. It will still sell the console and games, but only in selected stores where the system continues to be sufficiently popular.
It’s been a valiant fight my friend but has the end come?
August 18th, 2011 at 8:08 am
Well XIII-2 is still being released on 360 there lol
August 18th, 2011 at 8:13 am
That doesn’t suprise me. Nintendo and Sony stand a better chance in Japan since they are both based in that region.
August 18th, 2011 at 8:20 am
It’s due to the Xbox 360 losing The iDOLM@STER 2 (which sucked compared to the 1st one anyways) to the PS3. I think the only thing the Japanese Xbox 360 has going for it are the Cave games, but even then, STGs only appeal to a limited fanbase.
August 18th, 2011 at 8:51 am
iDOLM@STER 2???????
Nice graphic Deac LOL
August 18th, 2011 at 9:20 am
hard to believe a title like Idol Master takes off in Japan .. wtf?
August 18th, 2011 at 4:44 pm
Like I said a LONG time ago… Microsoft should have abandoned Japan after the first year there, and put all that effort they gave towards selling the 360 in Europe instead.
I’m sure they would have sold a lot more than 1.5 Million systems by now (Japan’s numbers) and would have deterred people in Europe from buying the Ps3.
August 18th, 2011 at 11:00 pm
wow, JUST hitting 1 million?
Considering there is about 127,560,000 people there,
that has got to be painful.
August 21st, 2011 at 6:20 am
If Microsoft would finally put all that effort in the EU. then maybe i would finally get SOME services as a loyal paying customer.
September 5th, 2011 at 3:35 am
Japanese living rooms are SMALL so they barely have room for a wii and PS3 but NOT for a large 360 plus blu ray player plus wii.
Kinnect???? in a SMALL japanese living room??
Fail.
Same reason the huge Xbox failed:
Too big!! too expensive!!
Pay for online play capability??
Fail in Japan.
September 5th, 2011 at 4:46 am
good point