Comical as the expression “big in Japan” might be, the opposite of that phrase – being unpopular in Japan – is no laughing matter, particularly in the gaming and tech industries. Unfortunately for Microsoft, that fate is exactly what is befalling its Xbox 360 console, offering more evidence of poor sales for the system overall, according to IGN.
Major electronics stores in Japan are lowering their order totals of the Xbox 360 in response to its apparently lessening popularity. The news source reported that some of these businesses may be planning to stop carrying the console and its games altogether in the near future, with indications that any remaining stock might be liquidated at drastic discounts.
Apparently, the 360 has not only been experiencing sales problems in Japan, though the drop-off in the country is particularly drastic, selling less than a tenth of the PlayStation 3′s sales figures since January 2011. Overall revenue from the current Microsoft flagship console is down by 46.7 percent.
As reported by Edge, the Kinect wireless controller has been the one recent bright spot in the Xbox’s retail life, with 8 million units sold in its first 60 days of release making it the fastest-selling electronics item so far in the consumer market.
Related posts:
