It's no secret that Microsoft consoles have historically had a lukewarm reception in Japan across various generations. While the Xbox Series X|S has garnered slightly more attention from players in the region, it's still far from generating the same level of interest as other systems.
Despite this, Xbox Series X sales have recently skyrocketed in Japan. Interestingly, this surge isn't due to a new strategy from Microsoft but rather a recent move made by PlayStation and Sony that impacted hardware sales.
In case you missed it, the companies recently announced a price increase for the PlayStation 5, DualSense, and PlayStation Portal in Japan. Apparently, some players were disappointed by the news and opted to purchase an Xbox Series X due to the price differences between the systems.
Xbox Sales Improve in Japan Due to PS5 Price Increase
Starting September 2, the PlayStation 5 will be approximately $90 USD more expensive in Japan. This led to panic buying, as we know that the system sold out at major retailers. Many people decided to purchase their systems early to save some money before the price hike.
Now, it has come to light that other players chose to turn their backs on PlayStation and Sony after they confirmed the price increases for their products. As a result, they opted to buy an Xbox Series X, a system that has seen an unexpected surge in sales in recent days.
According to reports, Microsoft's most powerful console climbed to 8th place in Yodobashi's top-selling items, one of Japan's largest retail chains.
What's surprising is that the system wasn't even in the top 100 before PlayStation and Sony announced the price hike for the PlayStation 5. This clearly played a significant role in Xbox Series X's sudden boost in popularity.
Despite Xbox Series X also experiencing price increases in some regions, it has become an attractive option for Japanese gamers. This is because, once the PS5 price hike takes effect, Microsoft's console will be approximately $100 USD cheaper.
Additionally, the recent shortage of PS5 consoles has driven many players to purchase an Xbox Series X. It’s worth noting again that the PlayStation price increases have only been announced for Japan so far.
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