320°

Microsoft announcing 'something' in Japan next week

Microsoft has revealed on the Japanese version of Inside Xbox that it is planning to announce something in the third week of February, which is next week. Microsoft wouldn't comment on the size or the announcement of what the announcement will be about. Rumors are now spreading about multiple things.

It could be that Microsoft is announcing a new bundle for Japan, or a release date for a future game or maybe even a official price cut. It could also be something way smaller than that, considering Microsoft is celebrating the Xbox's 6th birthday in Japan next week. We will just have to wait and see what Microsoft has in store for us and the Japanese gamers.

Rikitatsu5938d ago

Seriously its pretty much dead in japan

sonarus5938d ago

if its not a final fantasy they shouldnt bother. Giving up in Japan would be a mistake they can't win in Japan for sure but quickness to abandon Japan wouldnt fare to well for them in the eyes of the consumer

wageslave5938d ago

Dont be silly. This industry is not a regional one, its global. And MS looses far less than it gains by not maintaining their Japan work.

Sure the user base is smaller than NIN or SNY, but its not as if they arent growing their user-base.

And, it needs to keep the market open for 3rd parties.

TheTwelve5938d ago (Edited 5938d ago )

Wow...I can't even imagine how much money Microsoft has thrown into what is for them a giant Japanese toilet-bowl. Microsoft is only keeping the bowl with the lid up due to pride and image. Just as they named their next console "360" instead of "2" so as to not appear in anyway less than Sony, they can't give up in Japan even though billions upon billions of dollars have gone down the drain there.

12

socomnick5937d ago

Although the Xbox isnt selling very well in japan it cant just drop the whole region. That would be unjust to the fans that might live in that area.

antoinetm5937d ago

leaving japan behind would be a disaster for the 360 in term of public relations toward consumers and developpers.

You cant hope to develop a strong brand with that kind of behaviour..

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 5937d ago
DarkSniper5938d ago

Microsoft's announcement could possibly be that they are officially ceasing XBOX 360 production in Japan. Which is extremely delighting news for Dark Sniper, their console is simply not wanted in the homeland of many great game developers.

$niper

leon765938d ago

Ahahahahah... it would be a great new!!

BrianC62345938d ago

That's exactly what I was thinking. They might as well. I don't think they'll ever make a dent in Japan. Japanese gamers just hate them. Why bother? Even the big games they get that Japanese gamers might like end up flopping. Maybe their announcement will be the 360 is now free in Japan. Games too. That might get them so help in Japan.

ThaGeNeCySt5938d ago

Probably nothing big at all.

THE_JUDGE5938d ago

for the 360 going to the Japanese Xbox Live Arcade.

rawd5938d ago

Apparently it's the new Hiroshima bundle with Dualshock controllers for added nuclear realism

Show all comments (51)
150°

Price Reductions Available Now on the Digital Xbox 360 Store - Closing July 29, 2024

Xbox 360 launched 18 years ago and was a generation-defining console that invited many people to jump into gaming for the first time and connect with friends around the world. We’re thrilled people continue playing their favorite Xbox 360 games on Xbox 360, or on newer consoles via Backward Compatibility for supported titles.

Read Full Story >>
news.xbox.com
Einhander19722h ago

"we believe in game preservation"

Remember the media reaction when PlayStation wanted to shut down the PS3 store (but then kept it open)... where is that reaction here?

CrimsonWing691h ago

What are you asking? Like, if people got pissed at Sony for that? Because they did. We also got pissed at Nintendo when they did it.

You’re getting a chance to buy what you want before they close it. Moving forward digital stores should work like Steam. It’s just in this beginning they made it platform specific and closed off. A hindsight in their part and it sucks, but what is the percentage of people buying anything off these stores and what is the cost to keep the servers up?

I get it and yes making strives so this isn’t the case every gen we go into is absolutely a must. I mean PSN on PS3 is so convoluted to buy anything since you can’t use a credit card. Vita store is gone. It’s going to go away eventually.

Einhander19721h ago

"What are you asking? Like, if people got pissed at Sony for that? Because they did. We also got pissed at Nintendo when they did it."

My point is when PlayStation did this every website under the sun was writing articles talking about how "anti-consumer" it was yet I haven't seen anything like that happening when it's xbox doing it, in fact mostly what I see is praise from media when xbox makes obviously false claims about game preservation while they close down their store and xblig and push for digital only consoles streaming and subscriptions.

What I am asking is for everyone to be criticized or praised equally.

I mean look at the way the PS5 Slim's detachable disk drive was reported, it was super critical. Even though in reality they made it easier for people who initially buy a digital only console to move to physical, it was actually a step away from digital only. But did it get reported like that at all... no.

And you can still buy stuff on PlayStation you just need to add money to your account on the website or a PS4/5.

Tacoboto1h ago

That reaction isn't here because you can still play Xbox 360 discs of supported BC titles on Series and Xbox One, and you can still buy BC titles on the current Xbox Store.

It still sucks losing access to non-BC titles but don't act like it's the same situation. Let me know when PS5 actually supports my PS3 library.

Einhander197254m ago(Edited 51m ago)

How are you going to play those discs on your Series S (which 75% of xbox owners have) or your adorably all digital Series X?

And keep in mind that BC on xbox is an extremely limited selection of games, it's less than 25% of retail releases, and way less than the entire catalogue.

It's not a solution for the future, this isn't how "game preservation" looks, it's the fake PR that makes it that much worse.

Tacoboto46m ago

I'm not getting an all digital Series X so bark up someone else's tree, creep. I have my Series X for that disc support and functioning old hardware I still buy discs for (Bought Sudeki, Super Paper Mario, and 3D Dot Game Heroes a few months back - one for each old platform).

Fact is there's a mechanism that exists for Xbox OG and 360 BC physically and digitally. PS has none for PS1 or 2 or 3. If you're gonna bring PS into an Xbox article, at least know what you're talking about.

darthv7234m ago

The PS3 situation may have something to do with no forward way to play those games on newer hardware. Not to mention the PS3 store has been around far less than the 360 store. 360 store closing was expected and they did a pretty good job making many of its digital games forward compatible with XBO and subsequently the Series as well. Ones they could not come to an agreement with are going to be left behind, but here is your chance for last minute deals for you to continue playing on your 360.

Just because the 360 store closes doesnt make all of those games you have (digital/physical) stop working on real 360 hardware. If people have physical 360 games, chances are they also have the means to play them. Just like People with PS3 games having a PS3. It would be nice if all older games worked on newer hardware... but that is not for us to decide, that is for MS, Sony and Nintendo.

1Victor2h ago(Edited 2h ago)

RIP Xbox 360 digital store and all its games.
It really grinds my gears that they are waiting till 10 days before closing to give the best discounts and the list as of now is 100 or less titles from the massive 360 library

Phoenix761h ago(Edited 1h ago)

I should have enough points by the weekend to get £25 credit off MS, (hardly ever spend money on xb1), might look at a few of these.

DivineHand1251h ago

The Xbox 360 store was one of the only advantages the Xbox Series consoles had over the PS5. When I got my series X, I spent more playing Xbox 360 games vs current-gen Xbox games since that was the golden era for Xbox and several titles had enhancements such as 4k resolution and fps boost.

Closing this store will now only benefit the competition.

VersusDMC1h ago

The xbox360 store is closing on the xbox 360.

Xbox 360 games are unaffected on the xbox one and series consoles.

Einhander197247m ago

"Xbox will stop supporting the ability to purchase new games, DLC, and other entertainment content from the Xbox 360 Store on the console ->and the Xbox 360 Marketplace (marketplace.xbox.com).<-&q uot;

You will not be able to purchase any 360 games. You will only be able to play xbox discs if you have a console that support discs which doesn't look great for the future of xbox, if it has one.

VersusDMC14m ago

@Ein

Why are you repeating what i said?

You will not be able to buy digital 360 games to play on your 360.

You will still be able to buy 360 games on Xbone and Series consoles. Go to marketplace.xbox.com, that's the old browser store and not the new one.

110°

7 Deserving Games That Never Got Backward Compatibility

Backward compatibility works for many games on newer consoles, but titles such as The Simpsons: Hit and Run have been left out.

90°

20 Best Survival Games of All Time

From base building to swinging willies, here are the best survival games around, which include a couple of less than obvious picks.

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Vader823d ago

No 7 days to die is criminal