Microsoft: Releasing Xbox One in Japan 'As Is' Would be Difficult - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 08 July 2013 / 6,068 Views
CEO and president of Microsoft Japan Yasuyuki Higuchi had previously stated that Japan is a Tier 2 country for the Xbox One, while the US and Europe are Tier 1. He knows that the Xbox One is geared toward the Western market and if it was sold 'as is' would be a difficult sell.
"(Xbox One) is geared towards a Western lifestyle, and we’re looking at whether or not to launch it ‘as is’ in Japan," said Higuchi in an interview with 4gamer and translated by Edge. "We’re still figuring out how to deal with things like music and video services in each country. To be honest, (releasing it in Japan) as is would be difficult."
He also added that it won't be released in 2013, "but it will not be delayed very much behind the US." This suggests a release in early 2014.
"More than that, in Japan it is the case that gamers are stepping away from their consoles and using tablets and smartphones to play games instead," said Higuchi. "It will be difficult to expand the volume of consoles in the living room. I’m also looking at Sony’s movements, but Nintendo and so on must be finding things rather difficult."
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I think it would be difficult no matter what.
releasing is easy selling is what microsoft wont be doing
Think it's funny he managed to avoid the obvious fact that to use an Xbone you need a kinect, and to use a kinect you need a house larger than some Japanese cities. Also odd that he is saying that it's hard to expand the volume of consoles in the living room.... isn't he trying to sell... the xbox 1? as in the thing being advertised as the 1 device you need? he's already resigned it to being a failure at that.
Releasing in Japan just doesn't make sense for ms. It is not the market for them, too much bias and not enough profit.
Wow this guy is a real morale booster for the Japan team. If you were CEO of the company would you want him in charge? Shouldn't he be spinning rather than saying that the market he is in is shrinking and the product he wants to sell does not meet his target audience 's tastes?
I wish they wouldn't even try, because the only result of them trying will most likely be less rpg's on the PS4 in the early going. What a pain.
Cool story, bro.
