With Japanese Xbox 360 sales recently reinvigorated, even
outselling the Wii -- or
coming damned close, depending on who you believe -- Microsoft is keen to keep up the momentum. Speaking to
Edge, Xbox Japan head Takashi Sensui noted the sales boost, saying "[Microsoft needs] to make the strengthening of our RPG lineup a priority." In addition Sensui said that Microsoft is working to keep 360 supplies up in the region, no doubt referring to Japan's retailers
exhausting the country's entire supply of 360 consoles following the debut of
Tales of Vesperia. The next goal for Microsoft is to break the 1 million unit mark, a goal it's close to reaching with recent sales estimates hovering at nearly 720,000. Sensui is hopeful about the 360's prospects, saying "we believe that Japanese consumers will see what we have to offer and agree that is is the best option available."
With some big name RPGs on the way -- such as
Star Ocean: The Last Hope (above) -- and the Tokyo Game Show taking place next month, we're sure we'll be getting an earful of Microsoft's strategy for Japan in the coming weeks.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ccc @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:41PM
I would rpgs are not the only key.
2d fighters is also I big part along with shmups.
But we need these things stateside MS pleeeeease.
ryan @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:55PM
i wonder how many they'll push with Last Remnant being exclusive for this winter. so many RPGs this year.
Hurricane @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:09PM
With Final fantasy being a PS3 exclusive in japan i wouldnt think that 360 has much hope.
DigDug @ Sep 23rd 2008 6:28PM
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...
ryan @ Sep 23rd 2008 6:48PM
yeah, if only they could have a 28,188 a week every week.
AoE @ Sep 23rd 2008 7:24PM
Wasn't that the week after they'd sold out of the hardware entirely thanks to Tales of Vesperia and issued an apology as a result? I do believe it was.
Nice try though!
maynard @ Sep 24th 2008 3:21PM
digdug/jake is at it again!
How about this math instead...rather than taking their worst week, we can take their best and calculate like idiots based on that?
300,000/30,000 (rounded up from 28k) = 10 weeks
See, I can make stupid comparisons too!!!
Jake @ Sep 24th 2008 5:49PM
@maynard
How many weeks was that a typical sales number? How many weeks si 1000 units typical? 99.9% of the time, Xbox shifts less than 1500 units a week (1/10th of the PS3 sales).
Hak @ Sep 23rd 2008 7:27PM
whatever happened to Mistwalker's Cry on?? no one mentions about that in J-news lol.... T_T
Hak @ Sep 23rd 2008 7:28PM
whatever happened to Mistwalker's Cry on?? no one mentions about that in J-news lol.... T_T
Devin @ Sep 24th 2008 1:54PM
With enough money to buy up those JRPG exclusives or at least make them timed-exclusives (for those who just can't wait) I bet MS can hit the mark.....It's just too bad they can't do it any other way, but that's Sony's fault for letting them do it, so all power to em...
Serio @ Sep 24th 2008 6:05PM
After playing Lost Odyssey, i can see why 360-Exclusive JRPG's rock. If they can get a few more of it's kind, i'm sure it'd boost the sales even more.
Bluemanrule @ Sep 25th 2008 10:47AM
I've played Mass Effect, Blue Dragon, and currently on Lost Odyssey and I agree w/Serio. 360 Exclusive JRPGs are cool. I would love to see more and I know they would do well.
For Japan, the absence of FFXIII hurts. But Star Ocean 4 will bode very well for MS, provided IU and The Last Remnant review well. If that's the case, MS should reach that million mark by late January and soar around 1.15 million in when Star Ocean 4 is released. Just a thought