Microsoft has confirmed a price hike for the Xbox Series X/S consoles in Japan. Dominated by rivals Sony and Nintendo, the region has historically been one of the toughest markets for Xbox consoles to gain a sizable sales footing.

There were numerous reasons behind the Xbox One consistently recording underwhelming sales numbers in Japan, with one of the largest culprits being the lack of compelling Japanese games on the Microsoft machine. The launch of the Nintendo Switch in 2017 further pushed the Xbox One down the sales charts in Japan, with Microsoft concluding the generation with just over 100,000 sales in the region. With the Xbox Series X/S, however, the gaming giant was determined to drive greater sales in Japan, and while the current-gen systems have outperformed the Xbox One, the PlayStation 5 still comfortably pulls ahead.

After recent reports of Xbox console sales plummeting worldwide, it seems Microsoft has made the curious decision to raise the price of the Series X/S in Japan, as confirmed by a new press release sent to Famitsu. Starting August 15, 2024, the Xbox Series X will get pricier by 7,000 yen (about $47), bringing the total cost of the system to 66,978 yen. Meanwhile, the prices of the 512GB and 1TB variants of the Series X's smaller and less powerful sibling, the Series S, will be hiked by 6,600 yen ($44) and 5,400 yen ($36), adding up to 44,578 yen and 49,978 yen, respectively. When expressed in percentages, the price of the Series X and Series S 1TB increased by approximately 12%, whereas the 512GB Series S price was hiked by 17%.

Xbox Series X: 59,978 yen > 66,978 yen
Xbox Series S 1TB (Black): 44,578 yen > 49,978 yen
Xbox Series S 512GB: 37,978 yen > 44,578 yen

Interestingly, this isn't the first time Microsoft increased prices for the Xbox Series X/S in Japan, with the previous price hike coming into effect starting in January 2023. The recent decision was met with confusion from many fans, especially since Xbox console sales were already dwindling in the region. In response, Microsoft has clarified that the prices of the Xbox Series X/S have been adjusted according to local market conditions. The recent hike brings the Series S 512GB in line with its $300 price point in the United States, but the Series S 1TB and Series X still retail for cheaper in Japan.

This possibly hints at Microsoft subsidizing Xbox consoles more heavily in Japan in order to have a price advantage over the PS5. Now, though, the Series X and PS5 cost the same in the country, and the latter has already sold millions more units over its lifetime. With rumors of Xbox console marketing slowing down in the EMEA regions as well, one can only wonder if Microsoft is possibly mitigating its losses with the Series X/S and focusing on its next-generation console.

Posted: Aug 06, 2024 8:35 pm
Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Source: https://gamerant.com/xbox-series-x-consoles-japan-price-hike/