Xbox Series X and S Price to Increase in Japan on February 17 - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 30 January 2023 / 2,839 Views
Microsoft announced it will be increasing the price of the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S in Japan by 5,000 yen on February 17.
The Xbox Series X price will increase from 54,978 yen to 59,978 yen, while the Xbox Series S price will increase from 32,278 yen to 37,978 yen.
"After carefully evaluating the market condition in Japan, we have decided to change the suggested retail price of Xbox consoles in the country," reads a statement from Microsoft via Gematsu.
"We regularly evaluate the impact of local pricing to maintain reasonable consistency across regions. This price revision affects our customers and was a difficult decision to make, but going forward we will continue to provide the ultimate Xbox experience that our customers expect."
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer in October 2022 stated, "We've held price on our console, we've held price on games for us and our subscription. I don't think we'll be able to do that forever. I do think at some point we'll have to raise some prices on certain things."
In December 2022, Microsoft announced it is raising the price of its major first-party Xbox games built for Xbox Series X|S from $60 to $70 in 2023. Forza Motorsport, Redfall, and Starfield will cost $69.99 when they launch.
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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This should definitely help sales...
Seems they're setting themselves up for a big YoY decrease. Unless something extreme happens I think the dream of reaching the 360 in Japan dies here.
That ought to put the final nail in that coffin.
Really? The market you're trying to infiltrate the hardest, and so far this gen, with modest success, and you pull this crap?! Better hope PC Game Pass and xCloud really take off in Japan.
Very modest and only because it was compared to the bomb that is X1, it won't pass X360 sales there.
From what I can understand (And someone correct me if I am wrong) Japan isn't really driven by home consoles anymore.
It's all mobile as far as I know, which is why Switch prints money.
I think the main reason they are sticking to Japan, even if it probably costs them more money/time than it's even worth is the flow on effect to attracting a developer here or there who might have the motivation to release to western markets.
But yes, Japans faltered economy is likely making them a target for grey imports as well, I know many "retro" consoles actually import Japanese consoles over here for better or worst.
It isn't driven by consoles, that is true. Sony get titles that are console level even more when there is western appeal, and some that wouldn't get western appeal most likely will be restricted to Switch. Some time ago Xbox wouldn't get even the ones that gone to Sony (although porting would be cheap), but I believe with MS doing some moneyhat to GP that started to change. Haven't seem any big title releasing on xbox outside of GP (probably had but not saw news of it), so yes there is a reason for MS to be there in Japan regarding bringing games to it that can go to the west (altough I think they don't need to since the deals for GP would already ensure that).
One thing that I'd completely forgotten about, is that Microsoft got a Japanese developer with the Bethesda acquisition (Tango Gameworks), and that paid dividends with how well received Hi-Fi Rush was.
They haven't been trying anything in Japan with the XBS.
With how low sales are in Japan why even? I understand even with the price increase it is cheaper than it is in the US. But when they are only selling 1K per week why bother doing this. Unless they plan to start shipping like 10K per week. If that is the case the price increase might just kill any demand it has.
I don't think the price difference is enough to justify due to cost of shipping and possibly additional taxes.
Not after the price increase it's not, but before the price increase I think it could have been. Grey-market exports of consoles from Japan to the rest of the world have been going on since forever. I first learned about it in the 1980s.
I think that even if they raised their shipping from 1 to 10 the sales wouldn't nearly increase as much.
WTF and it will be still cheaper than in USA and Europe. Series X will now cost $460 in Japan
In Switzerland/Europe you pay 595 $ for Series X currently (official price recommendation).
That's essentially the exact same price as the U.S. then.
Remember that sales taxes are added at the last minute in the U.S., whereas a 20%-ish tax is included in the price in Switzerland/Europe.
Yep they defo want to kill their sales in Japan. Well ill say the same thing as i said when the Quest 2 and then PS5 raised their prices. If they do this anywhere else it will be a shitty move and something i wont support. They are a billion $ company they have no need to be raising console prices. Them things are meant to go down not up.
Strange move, guess they stopped trying to sell more by being less expensive and have adopted a stance more akin to (and sorry for my french) advienne que pourra, but still it remains cheaper than in the US (~$460 US was ~$420 US) but the Canadian version is now cheaper (~$440USD) so take this Japan 😛.
Out of all countries to raise the price.. they choose Japan, their hardest audience to sell to.
Owww, but I heard MS wouldn't raise price of consoles (even if they had already done in India), Sony is indeed greedy.
Heard the same thing.
Sony are stupid and greedy and MS are smart, caring, and giving. MS will only raise the prices for Game Pass, maybe, and no chance they raise the XB hardware prices.
I'm starting to think MS isn't as charitable as they portray themselves to be.
No they would only raise the price of games to 70 because of evil Sony pushing their hand, GP when it raise price is just because it had raised the value ow so much that it was necessary to cover.
When they raise the price everywhere except for the USA you and ConservagameR get back to me and we will have this convo again, you two poor takes on everything is really cringe worthy. Series consoles where pretty much already cheaper in japan than anywhere else and cheaper than the PS5 before PS5 raised its price and is cheaper than the PS5 even after this price raise in japan. MS wants to give up on a market they sell shit in is up to them. I still stand by that i do not see them raising prices in markets they can compete in and you can save this and quote me on it for future use. Till than this is nothing like what Sony and Meta done. Unless you guys really think raising prices in two country's where the prices where already dirt cheap compared to everywhere else vs rising the prices every except for the USA are the same thing?. So like i said if that happens you can quote me until than your bad takes and twisting things is a big nothing burger.
Yes I'm sure you will held yourself accountable, just as when you pointed out myself being on xbox news report and saying you didn't enter Sony ones and days later you started going to Sony Nation thread ow so very positive. Yes you are a shiny star.
Unlike you i would hold myself to my words and not try twist them. Once again here you are trying to twist what i said. You stated i go into every PS article talking bad about Sony just like you do with MS. I pointed out the fact that i dont enter every PS article talking bad about Sony most of the articles i enter talking about Sony is Sony games that im looking forward to, And yes i enter the Ps nation thread to check out the news etc. i asked you for prove that i enter every Sony article talking shit and you couldnt provide any just like always you try twisting things and cant back it up when asked.
Nope , you said you never gone to any., when you actually go to some and quite often to be negative and got warned and complained about receiving warns from mod. Don't move the goal post. And I don't enter all article about MS articles by the way.
Im not moving any goal posts that would be your doing. Now i know you have not lost your memory (Unless you have?), so you should clearly remember what my reply to you was back then. No need to try twist things to suit your agenda Don. I know when you done it the first time a few months back i figured you where just remembering things wrong and thats why you couldnt post your proof of me saying what your saying i said. But doing it now again clearly its not a memory issue and i thought you where a better user than to have to try twist peoples words.
HAHAHAHA!
Now I wanna see the same suspects trashing on Sony for price increase talk their shit here.
Next up Gamepass price increase
Microsoft has so far changed prices in two countries, and Sony changed prices in almost every country they sell the PS in.
Sony raised prices due to exchange ratio, MS done the same. When they raise in any additional territories are we going to count individually like that old post of the smartness of 13 vs 39?
Well, in fairness there's a big difference between raising prices in two countries (Microsoft) vs. every country but one (Sony). shrug
So if Microsoft does keep raising prices, country by country, then I agree with you. If not, then I think there's an important difference between the two approaches.
Yes you are right that it isn't the same thing, but it is the same reason, inflation and exchange ratio.
Oh, for sure. Though I think it's mostly exchange rate, as ocean shipping costs have actually gone down, and semiconductor prices do not appear to be inflating anymore. Inflation is a reason to raise prices everywhere (just more so in regions that have also had negative currency impacts). Exchange rate is a reason to do it only in some places.
At any rate, it'll be interesting to see if these are the only two (or part of a very small number of) tweaks Microsoft makes to console prices to adjust for exchange rates, or whether this is the beginning of death by a thousand cuts.
Sony Q3 financial report had as negative for GNS the increase in cost for the parts and digital service.
XB hardware prices definitely weren't going to increase they said.
Want to guess how much higher Game Pass prices are going to be than they expected?
False, they said they had no short-term plans to do raise prices, so they wouldn't raise them at least for Holiday 2022. And they didn't.
XB gamers weren't saying MS wouldn't raise hardware prices?
I don't doubt some gamers did say that, but Microsoft isn't responsible for gamers getting the wrong idea. Microsoft seemed pretty clear to me that they'd hold off for holiday 2022, and then re-evaluate afterward.
Yes and no.
Yes because MS did say something.
No because MS said we have no plans to increase prices (like Sony is), then not long after said we're probably going to have to but not until after the holidays since we're offering some deals then.
Well which is it? Are you the good guys who won't increase prices for no reason (like Sony), or are you no different than Sony when it comes to pricing and are basing your prices on the present and near future market?
Only somewhat confusing, but more hypocritical if anything.
Microsoft didn't promise they would never again raise prices. My recollection is that they said they weren't going to for the holidays, but probably would have to afterward. So it doesn't seem either confusing or hypocritical to me.
Plus they've raised console prices in only two territories that I know of, so in the overwhelming number of them prices haven't changed at all.
So you're saying MS won't raise console prices anywhere else?
Others made similar comments about MS not raising prices.
What about my comments suggests they won't raise prices elsewhere? The further from Holiday 2022 we go, the further from Microsoft's past comments on the subject we are. As for anyone but Microsoft making comments, Microsoft isn't responsible for anyone else's price speculation. :P
The part where you made a point that they've only raised hardware prices in a few places (one after another) so far but nowhere else as of yet. Well if they do raise prices elsewhere, then what?
Like some saying MS isn't going to raise prices, then when they do, saying oh, well its just a few places as of now. How far does that have to go before it becomes a point proven? Is there even a line or only sides taken?
Yet anyone but MS does seem to be responsible for explaining the opposite outcomes based on what MS says.
I continue to not be sure what your point is. Microsoft didn't say they wouldn't raise prices after Holiday 2022, and I didn't say that they wouldn't either. shrug
My suspicion is they may not, since the PS5s are selling much more strongly than the Xbox Series consoles. Or if they do, it will be only in a small few more places. But time will tell.
Unsure makes two of us.
You're the one making the assertion, though. So you are the one who should be certain what your point is.
Microsoft never said they wouldn't raise prices after holiday 2022. In fact, they said they probably WOULD start raising prices after holiday 2022. So what exactly is your point?
Unsure of what point you're trying to prove, not me.
My point was based on the OP (quoted below). They weren't really making a point about MS themselves. They were mainly talking about those attacking Sony or those defending them.
NoLimitVito (on 30 January 2023)
HAHAHAHA!
Now I wanna see the same suspects trashing on Sony for price increase talk their shit here.
Next up Gamepass price increase
I'm not trying to prove anything. You made the following claim:
"XB hardware prices definitely weren't going to increase they said."
I have repeatedly pointed out that your claim is incorrect. They said that prices wouldn't increase for Holiday 2022. That was true. They said that some prices would go up after that. Also true. Your claim was therefore false.
Again,
My point was based on the OP (quoted below). They weren't really making a point about MS themselves. They were mainly talking about those attacking Sony or those defending them.
NoLimitVito (on 30 January 2023)
HAHAHAHA!
Now I wanna see the same suspects trashing on Sony for price increase talk their shit here.
Next up Gamepass price increase
Also quoted from earlier,
ConservagameR in reply to scrapking (on 04 February 2023)
XB gamers weren't saying MS wouldn't raise hardware prices?
Those suspects mostly being XB gamers, not MS.
We're not talking about what MS said.
Thank you for the clarification. When you just said "they" in reference to Xbox pricing, that left your comment open to interpretation.
FWIW, in my experience at least, relatively few people were arguing that Xbox pricing would never change.
Personally I think Microsoft should be holding the line on pricing, even in markets where the currency has dropped, as these also tend to be markets where the Xbox does less well anyway. Unless pricing gets so out of whack in these markets that grey-market exporting is becoming a problem, why not just hold the line in exchange for building up the ecosystem? It makes no sense to me. But I guess they're going for profitability instead of growing marketshare in those markets, and fair enough if so.
You seemed to understand who I meant earlier though.
scrapking in reply to ConservagameR (on 06 February 2023)
I don't doubt some gamers did say that, but Microsoft isn't responsible for gamers getting the wrong idea.
XB isn't really there because MS wants to grow a vibrant gaming business. It's mostly there to keep PS from growing into worrisome territory for other MS business.
MS has no reason to be extra generous. Just generous enough that not everyone bails and buys a PS instead.
Looks like you're right, but enough time passed between replies that I forgot what I'd figured out, LOL. Hey, I'm not perfect! :)
I disagree with the idea that Microsoft isn't into building a vibrant gaming business, though. If you'd said a vibrant CONSOLE business I could maybe have agreed with you. But I think Microsoft very much does want to build a vibrant gaming business across a variety of platforms, and the console sometimes just gets lumped in with PC and streaming.
Which is fine with me. I've got an Xbox and a gaming PC and a mobile phone and a tablet. So I like buying a game (or subscribing to a service) and getting the same game on everything. To me the worst-case scenario would be having to buy the game twice (such as Sony's approach with their PC games).
Well if the console isn't doing the job is was mostly meant to do, you pretty much have to do something else gaming related to keep that audience. If you just abandon consoles and anything tied to them then you're going to lose all your customers to someone else, including PS.
I don't have a problem with Sony charging twice, I just wish they would do it like their PS4 to PS5 upgrades. Buy the game for $70 then pay like $20 more or so for the PC port if you want. Same would go for any other platform or device that required extra work put into the game.
Unless you're doing some kind of weird account sharing, or achievement hunting, you can only use one copy at a time, so buy once and play on both seems logical to me.
But your suggestion would be a much better situation than the status quo, that's for sure!
Microsoft hasn't abandoned consoles, they continue to invest in them. They've just investing in them as an equal to PC gaming.
That's no reason not to buy an Xbox, as you're still getting Forza, and Gears, and Starfield, and all the rest. If you don't have a gaming PC, or don't prefer to plug your gaming PC into your TV set, there's still a strong role for an Xbox.
Yes, but most console players aren't PC players and don't want to play on PC. So If XB consoles aren't cutting it, then PS will gain more customers. If MS is attempting to keep Sony at bay, then XB needs to sell well enough.
MS isn't bothering to hold out on low prices any longer because they don't need to. Their consoles are selling well enough right now so they're going to raise the pricing. They don't need to sell more than PS, just enough.
What has Xbox lost by also putting all their games on PC, in the eyes of someone who doesn't play PC?
As for investing in the business, proposing to pay $69+ billion to buy ABK seems like a pretty significant investment. This will help console sales, presumably. Even if ABK games stay multiplatform, being available day-and-date on Game Pass will be a killer app. Microsoft has also pledged to put as much of Activision's back catalogue on Game Pass as possible.
And even in the dark years of the Xbox One, Microsoft managed to shift 51.28 million units (according to VGChartz). The Xbox 360 did better, and the Xbox Series consoles likely will too. So it seems like there's no problem there.
But I agree with your conclusion that the Xbox is selling well enough, and that Microsoft is content with it selling just well enough.
Putting as much of their back catalogue on Game Pass as possible has interesting implications for the PC side of things, where Activision owns games back to the '80s. They've put some pretty old DOS-based Bethesda PC games on PC Game Pass, after all!
I don't remember they saying short-term (and when one doesn't say what configure short, for my company is 1-2 years, not 1-2 months), it was more like no plan at the moment.
They actually defined short-term, they said it was for holiday 2022. After that, they'd see how things went. And that's what they did.
This is the way to try and get sales from a place you been struggling to move units on
They started slow, I suppose it will spread to other regions excluding UK.
The meltdown will be much softer compared to when Sony did it.
I bet now we are going to see justifications of exchange ratios and inflation that were inexistent 6 months ago.
I bet you're right. That or silence. XB looks to be doing a 180 on transparency.
Indeed, they already raised the price in India last year 3 times and now this in Japan. I expect Europe to be next for them and if the Activision deal goes through, Gamepass price hike will follow.
And all of them justifiable, which I wouldn't even comment if weren't the pundits pretending otherwise few months ago.
Again as customer I would rather pay cheaper as possible so I don't defend neither Sony nor MS but I completely understand the reason they did it.
