Microsoft Pushes Xbox 360 to the Center Stage of the Japanese Market

Microsoft has long been regarded as a tolerable guest on the Japanese console market dominated by Sony, but the Redmond Company is looking to increase its market share by showcasing an aggressive promotional campaign at the Tokyo Game Show 2006. Concomitantly with the revealing of a 110 high-definition game library designed for the holiday season, Microsoft has also disclosed pricing and availability details concerning the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player in Japan.

"Xbox 360 and the HD DVD Player together deliver the most powerful and affordable games and movie system for Japanese consumers," commented Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft . "The freedom to choose their entertainment experiences is extremely important for consumers as they enter the next generation."

The Japanese version of the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player is scheduled for launching on November 17, 2006. According to the Redmond Company, the accessory will comprise an Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote. Microsoft has also presented the ¥19,800 as the estimated retail price for the player. "In addition, Microsoft announced that its fall software update, scheduled for release later this year, will allow all Xbox 360 consoles around the world to output game and movie content in 1080p resolution," said Microsoft.