Xbox 360 Still Failing in Japan

Although it might be unfair to compare sales of an Asian handheld to an American console, the Nintendo DS is is still doing way better in the Japanese gaming market, with more than 70 percent of console sales in April, but the Xbox 360 only having a mere one percent during the same month.

Media Create, an analyst company, released reports saying 138,000 Nintendo DS units and 690,000 DS Lites were sold during April. That’s about 12 percent and 60 percent of sales in Japan, respectively. The PSP is going strong – with 130,000 sold and having an 11 percent share in that period – but that’s compared to 10,700 units for the Xbox 360, which is proving less popular than even the Game Boy Micro.

With the PlayStation 2 outselling the Xbox 360 too since December, lots of analysts wonder what’s causing this disaster. Is it the games? Or maybe the way Microsoft is marketing in Japan? The original Xbox never got off in Japan either, which definitely makes you wonder even more. Will the upcoming 360 games change it all?

Although it might be unfair to compare sales of an Asian handheld to an American console, the Nintendo DS is is still doing way better in the Japanese gaming market, with more than 70 percent of console sales in April, but the Xbox 360 only having a mere one percent during the same month.

Media Create, an analyst company, released reports saying 138,000 Nintendo DS units and 690,000 DS Lites were sold during April. That’s about 12 percent and 60 percent of sales in Japan, respectively. The PSP is going strong – with 130,000 sold and having an 11 percent share in that period – but that’s compared to 10,700 units for the Xbox 360, which is proving less popular than even the Game Boy Micro.

With the PlayStation 2 outselling the Xbox 360 too since December, lots of analysts wonder what’s causing this disaster. Is it the games? Or maybe the way Microsoft is marketing in Japan? The original Xbox never got off in Japan either, which definitely makes you wonder even more. Will the upcoming 360 games change it all?