Japan Is Xbox’s Fastest Growing Market

Microsoft has stated that Japan is its fastest growing gaming market, with strong popularity for the Xbox Series S. This growth is noted to be, in a high percentage, coming from Japanese players who have never owned an Xbox before.

[majiebeast]

Xbox Series X – 391 (33,657)
Xbox Series S – 156 (11,846)

???

[Knushwood Butt]

This article must be satire.

[piroh]

Its not satire. If you used to sell 20 consoles per week and it jumps to 200 per week its 1000% grow, they are right :)

[Knushwood Butt]

That's a 900% increase, but yeah, an increase it is!

[Sonic-and-Crash]

Japan will never...but never will buy Xbox massively with current library ...

though if MS is close to bring Mario (or Zelda) to Gamepass . as many (inaccurate) leakers say ...then the game will change significantly ......then yes will be talking for a completel different console

[waverider]

dude, compared to 55, 30 or 18. Did you see any number on that «news». They can say 400% increase or 800%... Their market share on japan is very, very low.

[DJStotty]

But nonetheless as poor as the sales numbers are, it is still a growing market for xbox.

No downplay can change fact.

[Christopher]

Fastest growing. They could sell 600 one month and that would be a 100% growth in sales. It doesn't mean they're selling more.

Edit: Let me clarify. Not more than they were, but more than the competition.

Switch 337k
PS5 92k
XSX 4k

Those are last week's approximate numbers. PS5 and Switch sold less than they did last month. XSX sold more. Guess which company had the fastest growing market in the last month?

[Knushwood Butt]

If these numbers are for their 'fastest growing' market, it doesn't say much for the rest of their growth markets.

And with that said, enough of my time spent on this PR nonsense.

[Petebloodyonion]

Christoper MS was talking about their own market
So yeah it's a big Pr spin since other regions are probably on pace with predictions and past year
For Japan going from 10 consoles to unexpectedly 200 is the place where MS registered the biggest growth in term of %.

The only real news out of this is that MS is doing better than before in Japan now will it continue or stop well the future will tell.

[DazaMc]

You accidentally left a "k" after the Xbox number. /s

[DJStotty]

@Knushwood Butt

"If these numbers are for their 'fastest growing' market, it doesn't say much for the rest of their growth markets."

No, all it means is the rest of the world markets may have a growth of say 4% year on year, if Japan has a growth metric of 5% year on year, then Japan is Xbox's fastest growing market.

[1Victor]

@Cris I got 2 letters for you
PR and it doesn’t stand for/mean Puerto Rico

[CYALTR]

I don't think it is news to anyone, most of all MS, that they have virtually no market share in Japan. There are many reasons for that, including the fact that the Japanese are culturally speaking, will support Japanese companies over foreign countries. They are very nationalist that way.

Obviously there are many more reasons, lack of games targeted at the market, etc., but the cultural reasons are a factor.

When you are starting from basically zero, any improvement is a step in the right direction.

[Silly gameAr]

Just trying to keep the PR train rolling. That's all.

[DJStotty]

@majiebeast

Growth not sales

In other words, sales across Europe and US, are in parallel growth wise.

Whereas Japan sales are stronger than last gen, so Japan is the fastest "growing" market.

[XBManiac]

This morning a bank en Europe has made an offer to clients with 574 PS5 consoles (+R&K, 12Plus+20€ card) and it has been available for less than half an hour. Well... this has been a local thing. Compare it to ALL Japan with TWO consoles. Japan is a problem, as it has a cost to maintain presence there.

[1Victor]

2X faster sales means nothing when you’re base line is under 1K on a busy month 😂

The wording make it seem like huge impact but when you see the numbers it’s just a grain of sand

[CyberSentinel]

Probably because they can’t get a PS5 either.

😂

[Flewid638]

Speed, not amount. If they sell 1 Xbox a week, that's faster than usual for Japan.

[QUIMICOMORTAL]

if you sell 200 where you sold 100 befor you hava an amazing 100% increase.

[gravedigger]

Well, few hundreds is growth, i guess

[Orchard]

Growth is cool and all, but Japan is Nintendo-land now. MS & Sony are done in Japan.

[Christopher]

It's amazing that Playstation + Microsoft aren't even 50% of the Nintendo market there for just the Switch. That's domination, not PS4 vs XBO.

[DJStotty]

"PS4 has sold close too 10m PS4's in Japan. Microsoft sold approximately 120,000."

Wait, Microsoft sold 120,000 PS4's in Japan??

[1Victor]

@DJ” "PS4 has sold close too 10m PS4's in Japan. Microsoft sold approximately 120,000."

Wait, Microsoft sold 120,000 PS4's in Japan??“
Yes PS4 was so hot that Microsoft had to sale them to pay for rent 🤣 😂

[TheTony316]

It is Nintendo Land but Sony is far from done. MS shouldn't even bother releasing consoles there.

[derek]

Playstation is not "done" in Japan, thats ridiculous. Nintendo may be top dog, but there remains a considerable fanbase of Playstation fans in Japan.

[DazaMc]

MMMmmm Super Nintendo Land.

[FallenAngel1984]

That’s not saying a lot

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Yeah it's an big leap I say that it's better than last gen.

[bleedsoe9mm]

They aren't just talking about Xbox hardware

[lonewolf10]

This, everyone is missing this and concentrating on consoles sold, GP saw a big boost thanks to streaming etc. too. Although actual numbers would be nice from MSoft.

[Aloymetal]

o_O ok;)

[justadelusion]

well, when their market was as small as it was before, it is hard to go anywhere but up lol

[talocaca]

Lol....when you sell a few hundred units, it's a lot easier to double or triple your sales 🤣

[Duke19]

Good to see - Nintendo needs more competition over there. Gaming is better when its not just a single platform anywhere

[ScootaKuH]

The only competition to nintendo in Japan is Sony. Microsoft aren't even making the slightest dent. The article is pure spin.

[Duke19]

Which isn’t a good thing. Having only 2 choices will inevitably be horrendous to the consumer.

[Tetsdah]

What is mind-blowing is that supposedly the SeriesS is more popular than SeriesX. Like, Mediacreate doesn't exist lol. They show the numbers

[DJStotty]

It might be in Japan, Japan likes it's small tech, so i would expect the Series S to perform better sales wise in Japan than the Series X.

I wonder how many would buy the mini fridge? I know i'm getting it lol

[Tetsdah]

I understand that but Series X is consistently outselling S there. They have Media Create and Famitsu sales provide charts that disprove the claim. That is the equivalent of Japanese NPDs

[imtiyaz6]

Anyone else notice the recent influx of so many pro MS articles recently and the bots? It’s 2007 all over again. MA must have invested heavily on their online PR campaign again.

[King_Noctis]

Or because they just had a good E3 show? Yeah its 2007 all over again.

So when Sony finally get their spotlight on N4G again, are you gonna say “Sony must have invested heavily on their online PR campaign again” too? Are you gonna say bots suddenly appear too?

[derek]

@ King, b.s, Microsoft has always been heavy handed and tacky with their online media campaign.

[King_Noctis]

@derek

So when Sony is in the spotlight, it is organic and normal, but when it is MS, they pay for it?

How does that make even a lick of sense?

[DJStotty]

@derek

"Microsoft has always been heavy handed and tacky with their online media campaign."

I would love to see sources and evidence to back up that claim? or is that exactly what it is?

[CYALTR]

"So when Sony finally get their spotlight on N4G again"

Remind me again when the spotlight wasn't on Sony at N4G???

[bleedsoe9mm]

Make sure you don't get a covid vaccine that's how the deep state tracks your brainwaves

[gold_drake]

oh heey, its this article again.
its the same from a year ago, same title and all haha.
its still bs.

[marcuzgungeze10]

The numbers of course are skewed because of Japanese enthusiasm towards Xbox. However, it is telling the Series S is what is grabbing attention. A great entry into Game Pass, -a cheaper, smaller console that gives Japanese gamers a more solid experience than the Switch. No new Final Fantasy on Xbox prolly hurts but MS is showing solid investment in Japanese games coming to the console and game pass. This is good news for Xbox but nothing that changes the homeland of either Nintendo or Sony.

[Snakeeater25]

For years Japan is done with real Hardcore gaming
Just pokemon and kids stuff
A kind of useless market to target for Sony and MS

[BehindTheRows]

Useless tor Microsoft. That’s it. Everybody else actually sells decent to fantastic there.

[CYALTR]

"For years Japan is done with real Hardcore gaming"

I guess that should bode well for MS, as all I here around here is that MS is done making games for "hardcore" gaming anyway!!

[JayRyu]

Good for MS!
Progress is Progress. With more JRPG coming to xbox and Gamepass this is a good sign. They are not going to overtake Nintendo interns of Hardware but Gamepass on mobile in Japan could bring big returns. Especially if Gamepass comes to the Switch.

[TheTony316]

Oh, they managed to sell 100 consoles instead of 10?

[DJStotty]

Still growth :p

[Chevalier]

Still pathetic.

[addictedtochaos]

That is a rather low bar.

[YourMommySpoils]

Sure it is. Another one of Phil's great stories.

[YourMommySpoils]

and 6 dislikes must mean only 6 people in Japan bought an xBoxer

[leejohnson222]

My fat hairy arse, ign are such shills

[BlackIceJoe]

I wish Microsoft would invest more in Japan and if they did that it is possible you'd see more Japanese gamers wanting to support Xbox.

[ScootaKuH]

Nice way to spin poor overall sales.

[Phoenix76]

Now this is some serious PR spin. Well done IGN, you've out done yourselves again.

[2moda5gamer]

This would be sales from American troops stuck in Japan who want to play with their friends back home.
As some one who lives there, take my word, theres no games ordered to be stocked on shelves at the main retailers, let alone any advertising in sight. No real local interest.
BUT - Great progress for MS, and i do hope it means more locals wanna try the series X out, but reality is Japan is a mobile gaming market now - so those who do want their consoles will likely take the safe option of PS5.

[CYALTR]

Interesting point. I never thought of that, but it makes sense with the number of US troops stationed there. Thanks for sharing that

[Futureshark]

Phil Spencer rings a bell in his office every time an Xbox is sold in Japan.

He gives it a little dusting just before the ring though.

[DJStotty]

Lol, no doubt though Phil is doing a stellar job at Xbox with the direction/traction they are garnering.

Keep it up Phil, and keep that bella ringin'

[DarXyde]

It's like being the tallest kid in Kindergarten.

[moriarty1889]

must be a joke......

[Father__Merrin]

It's percentage manipulation from Microsoft they did this during 360 era. 1 Console a week going to 2 consoles is 100% increase

[anast]

The Xbox is not selling well.

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

Nowhere to go but up.

[Juvia]

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Like, for example, this article.

[kayoss]

This article is out of line, but its right.

from 50 consoles per week to 11,000 consoles is a big growth.

Reader Discretion: the numbers presented in this comment does not reflect the actual numbers of xbox sold in Japan. Please consult your health care professional or mental health advisor if you're triggered by these numbers.

[Hawk198666]

Slow clap...

[FPS_D3TH]

Nice but still extremely low regardless

[XBManiac]

Japan, the only country where you can buy an Xbox Series X without stock problems.

[John_McClane]

That's yuge!

[jjb1981]

Also, hot water cools faster than cold water.