Microsoft announced a November date for the release of the much anticipated Xbox One. In fact, only 21 countries will have the pleasure of forming long lines and possible fist fights for this gaming machine.
One country that didn’t make this list is Japan. According to Microsoft Japan President Yasuyuki Higuchi, Japan is in the 2nd tier of the Xbox release wave. Higuchi says it won’t be too long after the first tier of releases. So if you’re in Japan, expect your Xbox One sometime in 2014. Other countries like South Korea, Hong Kong and India won’t be seeing an Xbox One until late 2014. So whether Japan’s chance is coming earlier than their Asian counterparts remains to be seen.
At first, I was surprised that Japan wouldn’t get the first crack at the new Xbox. After all, isn’t this the nation that helped launch the home video game revolution in the first place? Apparently, Xbox isn’t very popular in Japan. But it’s sold some. I still feel this is a bad call on Microsoft’s part. Japan is one of the biggest markets in the world. India is one of the biggest markets in the world. Yes, I know many cultures don’t celebrate Christmas like we do. I can only hope they don’t fight, hoop and holler like over the last product like we do. But I’m confident if Xbox One is released simultaneously around the world, they’ll do much better. If American consumers are going to go nuts over Xbox?One this holiday season, shouldn’t other countries take part in?our misery and mayhem?