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Xbox 360 passes one million units sold in Japan

  • By Laura Parker and Dan Chiappini, GameSpot AU
  • Posted Apr 21, 2009 3:21 am PT

Microsoft celebrates hardware-sales milestone with "thank you" campaign; plans to give away one million Microsoft points in Japan; Japanese 2009 release schedule outlined.

In February this year, the Xbox 360 outsold the Wii and PlayStation 3 in Japan for the week of February 16 to 22, when the Xbox 360-exclusive role-playing game Star Ocean: The Last Hope launched. Even with occasional sales spikes, Japan is hardly the poster child for Xbox 360 console sales globally.

At a media conference held in Japan today, Microsoft announced that it had finally surpassed the one million unit hardware-sale mark in the land of the rising sun, and will celebrate the occasion by giving away one million Microsoft points and a dashboard theme locally as part of a "thank you" campaign.

The announcement was made by Microsoft Japan president Takashi Sensui alongside announcements about upcoming retail and downloadable games for its Xbox Live Arcade service from various local industry luminaries.

Among these, Namco Bandai's Yoshihisa Kanesaka announced that the company will be bringing SoftMax-developed fantasy role-playing game Magna Carta 2 to the console with a slated Japanese release date of August 6.

Via video message, Capcom producer Jun Takeuchi again confirmed that Lost Planet 2 will feature four-player co-op support, and Dead Rising 2 producer Keiji Inafune discussed foreign developers handling the game's progress. He also aired a trailer for the game that showed the protagonist attacking zombies in a casino setting using various objects as weapons.

Tri-Ace's Takayuki Suguro took the stage to discuss new RPG End of Eternity, which is scheduled for release in winter 2009. A CG and short gameplay trailer were also shown, detailing the game's combat.

Microsoft Xbox marketing spokesman Joji Sakaguchi used the latter part of the briefing to detail and date upcoming Xbox 360 and XBLA games, including 2D fighting game BlazBlu: Calamity Trigger, which is due out June 26, and a new 3D Samurai Shodown game. Lode Runner is due to land on the service tomorrow, April 22, whereas Banjo-Kazooie sequel Banjo-Tooie and Virtual On will each be available from April 29. Mega Man 9 is due out in June for 800 Microsoft points and will include a new boss.

Space Invaders Extreme and four-player puzzle game OD Beat Drop were also teased, though neither had release schedules outlined, except for a promise that they would arrive in "spring." Bubble Bobble Neo and SNK Playmore's Gorou: Mark of the Wolves were name-checked for an estimated spring/summer launch window, whereas The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match is due in 2010.

Microsoft finished the presentation by announcing that Square Enix games Project Cube, Yosumin Live, and 0 Day Attack on Earth were all destined for release sometime in 2009.

191 Comments

  • SovietAgent

    Posted Aug 8, 2009 12:41 am GMT

    I don't exactly get the significance of this,Japan is only 1 country of an entire world-wide market. And what's with all the PS3 fanboys bragging that more sales in Japan = more sales in general.

  • ThAdEa82

    Posted May 5, 2009 7:32 am GMT

    Did someone say bubble bobble?

  • ThAdEa82

    Posted May 5, 2009 7:22 am GMT

    So many wii owners say, the 360 has an amazing game library...what would be the point of buying a wii then? Oh because there is a game that seems sort of entertaining but it doesnt match up to other consoles?

  • srdjan311

    Posted Apr 24, 2009 4:39 pm GMT

    that's pretty good for an xbox system in japan

  • brendanhunt1

    Posted Apr 23, 2009 12:50 pm GMT

    @Jono789
    http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=23186

    i dont lie
    14/4/09

  • hi-buzz

    Posted Apr 23, 2009 9:13 am GMT

    they're doing pretty "good" with the numbers....

  • Inconnux

    Posted Apr 22, 2009 5:24 pm GMT

    I'm not sure they should be bragging about this considering the Wii outsells it 8-1

  • JackHoleFace00

    Posted Apr 22, 2009 2:39 pm GMT

    @jtthegame316
    You just illustrated my whole point. You say yourself you think the 360 is the better system, and MOST core gamers would agree that it is based mainly on the overall game library (yes I know Wii owners you disagree but put the fanboy-ism aside for a sec and listen to my point), and even as a PS3 owner, I admit that it stacks up (I mainly chose PS3 for MGS 4 and Blu-Ray, but admit 360 has some awesome games). Yet the Wii outsells the 360 over 8-to-1 and the PS3 outsells 360 3-to-1.

    In a nut shell, I'm just saying that even though the 360 is a quality product based on its games (not including the hardware reliability issues), it still is getting trounced in Japan, and I just wonder if they'll ever go for a US product, no matter how good it is.

  • Mamba219

    Posted Apr 22, 2009 1:37 pm GMT

    enoslives, that is totally opinion based.

  • Jono789

    Posted Apr 22, 2009 11:58 am GMT

    Brendan dont post lies... its really not healthy

  • brendanhunt1 posted Apr 22, 2009 11:55 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    brendanhunt1

    Posted Apr 22, 2009 11:55 am GMT (hide)

    Xbox 360 = 162 exclusives
    Ps3 = 132 exclusives

    One out of every three PS3 games have an 80+ score, while Xbox 360 has one out of five titles that have an 80 + scores

    The average age of PS3s top 10 games is 9.3 months. Compare that with the average age of Xbox 360s top ten, which averages around 15.7 months

  • invictuslemming

    Posted Apr 22, 2009 11:11 am GMT

    Less than 500,000 original Xbox's we're sold in Japan, more than a million 360's sold in current gen.

    They may not be massive numbers, but the trend is going in a positive direction, I'm sure Microsoft has accepted that they'll be last place in Japan, but with the inroads they're making this generation, its looking positive for the next-gen xbox

  • antibanner

    Posted Apr 22, 2009 10:30 am GMT

    ps2 sold 40million in america.. ouch

  • c02z

    Posted Apr 22, 2009 10:24 am GMT

    this means more rpg and more life span on xbox 360. wonderful

  • enoslives7

    Posted Apr 22, 2009 9:53 am GMT

    That is a good point about how irrelevant japan is becoming to gaming. The best games are made in North America. Rockstar, Blizzard, Activision, and even the greedy EA absolutely own japanese game publishers. Still, Capcom does rehash alot of decent fighting games.

  • ISuPrEmAcY32I

    Posted Apr 22, 2009 8:36 am GMT

    ebonyflame: "I would say they should just get out of Japan and call it a day but they have spent far to much money there now to just leave."

    @ebonyflame

    There's a lot of factors why staying in Japan is a good idea. One of the biggest is that classically many of the most well renowned game devs come out of Japan. To get these developers not only to make games for the x360, but to even go console exclusive, it is important to have a strong console base that will convince them it would be worth it. This may not pay off this generation, but when the next cycle of consoles come out, these early investments will start to pay off more and more for Microsoft.

  • Tebbit

    Posted Apr 22, 2009 6:53 am GMT

    Well, it would be if FF13 was getting released on the 360 in Japan. ATM it's a PS3 exclusive there I believe.

  • Grandstream

    Posted Apr 22, 2009 5:58 am GMT

    They forget that FF13 is supposed to release at the end of this year. And that's gonna be a critical sales figure for 360s and PS3's alike.

  • armed556

    Posted Apr 22, 2009 5:32 am GMT

    good news for microsoft

  • StarlightHunter

    Posted Apr 22, 2009 4:18 am GMT

    @Jedi_Dad, yeah all the 360's that were built after september last year are called the jasper 360's and have a new chipset, CPU and a better cooling system. so yeah the RROD most likely will never occur but same can't be said for the E74.

  • blackace

    Posted Apr 22, 2009 2:54 am GMT

    Oh snap. I didn't know Virtua On was coming to XBox 360. Is this just in Japan or will it be in America as well. What about those SquareEnix games. Are those all Japan only. Bring some of that stuff out here in the U.S.

  • gamepunk86

    Posted Apr 22, 2009 1:49 am GMT

    i mean that's cool and all about the thank you campaign but like isn't it kinda i don't know, too desperate and needy-like to call it that? it's like why not give the US a thank you campaign for buying your systems even though we knew about your RROD and E74's? i think there's too much effort spent on the japanese market

  • ebonyflame

    Posted Apr 22, 2009 12:48 am GMT

    I would say they should just get out of Japan and call it a day but they have spent far to much money there now to just leave.

  • daveg1

    Posted Apr 22, 2009 12:29 am GMT

    should be pretty good as long as they changed the save system and all that stuff about dying and going back to the begining..

  • MATERAZZI_23

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 8:04 pm GMT

    Yay!!! xD oh, wait.... all those games will also be on the PS3.....

  • XeonForce

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 8:00 pm GMT

    Microsoft spent a lot of dough buying exclusitivity for so many RPG's and giving away points. I wouldn't be suprised if the Japs didn't even know what a RROD was, they probably got the good 360s. I don't understand why Microsoft is kissing up to Japan so much, why can't we get some love... =(

  • Phazevariance

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 7:55 pm GMT

    Nice going MS, slowly eat away at sony's chunk of the pie.

  • GatCloudX posted Apr 21, 2009 7:55 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    GatCloudX

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 7:55 pm GMT (hide)

    to bad the console breaks every now and then!

  • UltimateRAGEX

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 7:13 pm GMT

    nice, go M$! F*** $ony!

  • TheoleDominion

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 6:33 pm GMT

    Congrats MS! I for one never believe an American console would EVER reach a million in Japan. But then again, I laughed at the idea of selling WATER in a bottle years ago. I've learned to never doubt an idea no matter how ridiculous it's sounds..lol

  • invictuslemming

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 6:23 pm GMT

    Might not seem like a lot but MS sold only around a half million of the original XBox to japan over the entire life of the console. A million is a pretty sweet number looking at history. They`re making inroads in a market entrenched with two local behemoths, thats not an easy task to accomplish.

  • delta3074

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 6:06 pm GMT

    good news for MS

  • hatieshorrer

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 5:46 pm GMT

    Another 2million and X360 will push the PS3 to being the third place in Japan.

  • -ScorpionKing

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 5:40 pm GMT

    Great...Go MS...make another great exclusive xbox 360 game...MS & xbox 360 rocks

  • antibanner posted Apr 21, 2009 5:22 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    antibanner

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 5:22 pm GMT (hide)

    @angelGP32
    PC is a must have, and if you wanna play on it you have to keep it updated true!.
    you can play every "pc-xbox" game with a GeForce 9800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 which prices at 94$ and it will certainly play games well for atleast 2 more years.
    according to xbox 1, the xbox lifespan i 4 years.so your xbox has one more year then youl have to update. thanks but ill stay with my pc and my ps3. PC is inmortal, ps3 is a baby compare to old dying xbox360.

  • andrew_ribbons

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 4:03 pm GMT

    "@ andrew_ribbons
    You totally missed the sarcasm. I was bagging on Sony, dude."

    XD Fair enough. I wasn't quite sure, so i went with a kinda passive response there to your comment

  • enoslives7

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 3:52 pm GMT

    LMAO!!!! I have said it a million times. microsoft should give on up japan. It is hopeless......microsoft has thrown away billions on japan,and still cant even begin to compete with Sony or nintendo. Why are microsoft shareholders content to watch their stock drop like a rock....they need to pull the plug on japan.

  • GrilledCharlie

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 3:46 pm GMT

    @ andrew_ribbons
    You totally missed the sarcasm. I was bagging on Sony, dude.

  • andrew_ribbons

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 3:38 pm GMT

    "Microsoft celebrating selling 1,000,000 consoles in Japan is only slightly pitiful when compared to Sony celebrating selling 1,000,000 copies of KZ2, and thinking that they accomplished something."

    Well no, that's 1Million KZ2 worldwide. MS sellin 1M in just one country that doesn't usually like non-Japanese products, ain't THAT bad. It's nothing special but it's not bad.

    Well of course they're going to be trying incentives to the Japanese, they've really had to try to get even a slight foothold in that country.

    Mind you I just saw MS giving out 8000 MS points prizes just for watching movies. They haven't exactly abandoned EU and US fans.

  • lanista

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 3:26 pm GMT

    @Oni Posted Apr 21, 2009 10:57 pm GMT "I really loath how M$ kisses Japan's butt. They go out of their way to please them when it's been North America and Europe that's made the 360 what it is, not the Japanese. So stfu Microsoft and I'll tell you where you can stick those points, far up your ....."

    I hear you. Agree it's very good to reward / encourage ppl you want on your side, but sometimes you kinda think surely they should reward those who have supported come what may, rather than those who "appear" could care less

  • jtthegame316

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 3:24 pm GMT

    JackHoleFace00 the wii is out selling the ps 3 too remember. the wii will always outsell everything because it captures the interest of non gamers as well as some real gamers. i own wii and 360. 360 is just full of quality games. wii i only like the odd few titles. segas madworld, house of the dead overkill and resident evil chronicals are all i really play on wii but on 360 i play lots of games between disk game and live arcade i find my 360 taking up the bluk of my gaming time.

  • GrilledCharlie

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 3:00 pm GMT

    Microsoft celebrating selling 1,000,000 consoles in Japan is only slightly pitiful when compared to Sony celebrating selling 1,000,000 copies of KZ2, and thinking that they accomplished something.

  • Oni

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 2:57 pm GMT

    I really loath how M$ kisses Japan's butt. They go out of their way to please them when it's been North America and Europe that's made the 360 what it is, not the Japanese. So stfu Microsoft and I'll tell you where you can stick those points, far up your .....

  • chibi-acer

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 2:36 pm GMT

    @SolidKhan00
    How to do you figure PS3 has more games with a higher score?

    I just checked Metacritic out of curiosity, and there are 20 Xbox 360 games with a rating of over 90, while the PS3 only has 13. If you count games with a score of 80 or higher, the 360 has 138, while the PS3 only has 97.

  • SolidKhan00 posted Apr 21, 2009 2:29 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    SolidKhan00

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 2:29 pm GMT (hide)

    360 has lots of games, we get it! Half of them aren't even games people want to play. The PS3 doesn't have as many games, but there are more good ones that get higher scores from Metacritic and such.

    Quality over Quantity people.

  • chibi-acer

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 2:28 pm GMT

    Congrats Microsoft.

    Maybe this will further encourage Japanese developers to make 360 games. That would be nice.

    Even if you have both consoles or just a PS3, seeing the 360 do well in the Japanese market just makes Sony compete harder, which is good for gamers everywhere.

  • Gamingcucumber

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 2:14 pm GMT

    To me it's quite the accomplishment. In a country where video games has been a staple for so many years and domestic companies such as Nintendo - Sega - NeoGeo - Sony etc it's quite surprising that a Hardcore Western console ever reached the million sales milestone.

    Altough, I guess it's dissapointing from one viewpoint. Microsoft has really tried so hard with that region. Going all out on JRPGs etc, and only a couple of times has the sales left the ground.

  • JackHoleFace00

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 2:11 pm GMT

    Yeah this is pretty sad considering how long it's been out. I mean the Wii sells a million units every what? 4-5 months? Not years. I just wonder if Japan will always not buy into an American company's hardware, because personally I think 99% of Wii's games are garbage (yes I know Mario Galaxy, SSBB, etc. are great but they're old with very few good looking games coming in the near future). And I don't even own an Xbox (I own a PS3), but I have to admit there are some great games for it. So I know not all agree but one could argue the 360 is the better system/value with better games, but the Wii is grossly outselling it. So who knows.

  • XanderZane

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 2:02 pm GMT

    enix165

    Whoo, a whole million sold in...4 years? I might be a Lem, but this is so pitiful I find it pretty funny...
    ***********************************************************
    Not pitiful at all when you do some history and find out that the XBox 360 is the first American developed game console to sell over a million units in Japan. NO OTHER AMERICAN GAME CONSOLE HAS DONE THIS. This is HUGE. Even more huge then FF XIII coming to the XBox 360. Microsoft has done what no other American company could do in the gaming industry. Not Atari, Colecovision, Panasonic, Magnavox, Western Tech/Milton Bradley, Mattel etc... could sale there game system in Japan and sell over 1 million units.

    So, no, it's not "pitiful" at all. It's HISTORY.

  • sampj

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 2:00 pm GMT

    So what? Europe and America have been buying MILLIONS of xboxes. Where's our free Microsoft points! This is such an injustice.

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