Square Enix expecting 360 to improve in Japan. > Video Game News, Inc.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Square Enix expecting 360 to improve in Japan.
By NutMan @ 10:10 AM :: 135 Views :: 1 Comments ::

:: 360

Square Enix released Infinite Undiscovery on the Xbox 360 in September, and while sales in Japan have slowed to a halt, the sales in North America and Europe are slow and steady bringing the worldwide sales to almost 500,000 copies so far. Square Enix has higher hopes for The Last Remnant and Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope.

“Square Enix develops its titles for users all around the world,” Hashimoto says. “We would not make decisions regarding hardware based solely on the Japanese user base. [Star Ocean 4, Last Remnant and Infinite Undiscovery] were developed with the global market in mind, so by releasing them on the Xbox 360, which enjoys a high market share in the United States and Europe, we are hoping to gain more recognition from this large user base.”

So does Japan love the Xbox? Not quite yet according to Edge. It's more a matter of circumstance. The Japanese audience is starved for games like Ace Combat 6 and RPGs from Square Enix which can't be found on the PS3(or the Wii for that matter). Even games like Eternal Sonata(timed 360 exclusive) are taking a very long time to arrive on the PS3.

If Microsoft can keep a good relationship with Square Enix and keep the price of the Xbox 360 competitive there's still hope for the Xbox brand in Japan.

Microsoft is hoping to break the 1 million units sold mark sometime before the end of the year in Japan. In comparison, the original Xbox sold about 450,000 units in its lifetime in Japan.

Source: [Edge]

Comments

By madmex @ Wednesday, November 26, 2008 10:51 AM

Man, I hope they remember how to make a good game...The Last Remnant (not good).

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