Microsoft has revealed their next tier of countries which will experience the Xbox One launch in September. Japan is confirmed to be one of these countries.
Here’s a full list of all the confirmed countries:
· Argentina
· Belgium
· Chile
· Colombia
· Czech Republic
· Denmark
· Finland
· Greece
· Hungary
· India
· Israel
· Japan
· Korea
· Netherlands
· Norway
· Poland
· Portugal
· Russia
· Saudi Arabia
· Singapore
· Slovakia
· South Africa
· Sweden
· Switzerland
· Turkey
· UAE
There isn’t any particular region singled out here, with countries found in Europe, Pan America, Africa, and Asia. Microsoft may simply be getting around the countries they had not prioritized. Microsoft promises more details for these countries before the month ends.
However, we already have more information on the launch in Japan. Other sources have confirmed that Microsoft has scheduled the launch there for September 4. Microsoft has lined up several major Japanese developers to prepare games, including Arc System Works, Bandai Namco, Capcom, Cave, CyberConnect2, From Software, Konami, Level 5 and Sega. Furthermore, they have smaller Japanese devs Aabs Inc., Comcept, Hexa Drive, iNiS, Inti Creates, Monobit, Nigoro, Nude Maker and Smile Boom signed up and making games under the ID@Xbox program.
Is 3rd time the charm for Xbox in Japan? Or are its prospects there clearly dire, not only based on their past performances but the underwhelming numbers for the Playstation 4 in the region?
Truthfully, Microsoft has historically and consistently shown an inability to understand and capture the Japanese console market. They couldn’t even hold on to their previous contractual developers Team Ninja or CAVE Co. Ltd. Phil Spencer has promised change, but he has an even steeper mountain to climb there than in any other region. We will see how well he fares.
