Kinect Sells 26,000 Units At Japanese Launch

Unsurprising.

Published: 8:45, 26/11/2010 by Dan Lee.

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It looks like Kinect hasn’t really made an impact on the Japanese market, selling just 26,000 units at launch. Due to this Kinect software barely made a dent in the Japanese chart, with DanceEvolution selling 6,000 units and charting at 24th; Kinect Sports entering at 45; and Crossboard 7, New Brain Training and Sonic Free Riders all failing to make it.

Clearly not what Microsoft was hoping for, but the result is unsurprising given the console’s unpopularity. It will be interesting to see if the games announced at TGS will sway the public opinion, or whether Microsoft will just cut their losses and focus on the West.

Source: Andriasang

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Comments:
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jayjay119 [Member]
26/11/2010 at 09:00

Level 5
Member since: Apr 2010

To be honest I think that’s not gonna happen, I mean 26,000 units may be abysmal but it’s better than nothing. I do think MS need to accept that in an are where there are already 2 home consoles, if they aren’t popular after 5 years, they ain’t gonna be!
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Porcupine_I [Member]
26/11/2010 at 09:04

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Member since: Aug 2009

i believe the average sales of Microsoft titles in Japan directly correspond with the numbers of American troops stationed in Japan.
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- bunimomike [Member]
  26/11/2010 at 09:21
  
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  Member since: Jul 2009
  
  If that’s the case, Microsoft have a great opportunity to save on shipping. They can simply pop a game into the soldier’s rucksack and get him/her to take it with them.
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Foxhound_Solid [Is a smart cookie.]
26/11/2010 at 09:07

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Member since: Dec 2009

Xbox seems to only have a proper stance in the American Market….

Everywhere else it seems to differ.

PS3 has too many awesome games for it to stand a chance really, and the Juggernaut that is the Wii is another story….
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- bunimomike [Member]
  26/11/2010 at 09:22
  
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  As it happens, the most fair (and even) place is Europe. All the consoles do well. Good ol’ multiculturalism.
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- Watchful [Team TSA: Writer]
  26/11/2010 at 10:23
  
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  The 360 is a good way ahead of the PS3 in the UK too, not just the US.
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  - Foxhound_Solid [Is a smart cookie.]
    26/11/2010 at 12:22
    
    Level 6
    Member since: Dec 2009
    
    I reckon that may change soon, nearly all 360 owners I know now play PS3. I reckon theyll be neck and neck very soon. Although globally the gap has shrunk dramtically…
    
    When you look at the lack of advertising by Sony it just shows how much gamers have a high regard for PS3. Unless you work for Game that is…..
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tonyyeb [Member]
26/11/2010 at 09:27

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How does this compare to Move sales in Japan?
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- jayjay119 [Member]
  26/11/2010 at 09:41
  
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  Member since: Apr 2010
  
  I read in an article that in Japan Kinect’s sales are a fourth of Moves, that would put it at over 100,000 units, but the site wasn’t exactly official.
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  - FoxHoundGabe [Member]
    26/11/2010 at 13:08
    
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    Member since: Mar 2010
    
    As far as i know, move “only” doubled kinect’s sales, and taking into account the different prices id say its acctually not that bad.
    Even more, as there is 4 PS3 for every 360 (was it?) kienct might have sold more than move proportionally!
    
    What both devices have not been, certainly (at least in Japan) is a console-seller.
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Charmed_Fanatic [Member]
26/11/2010 at 11:24

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Member since: Aug 2009

Just give up MS. Japan is not yours
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- cam the man [Member]
  26/11/2010 at 11:52
  
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  Member since: May 2009
  
  26,000 X £129.99 = £3,379,740 seems worth it to me.
  Don’t know what it sells for in Japan but even if it is less than the UK price it’s still a lot of money.
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  - shields_t [Member]
    26/11/2010 at 12:16
    
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    Member since: Oct 2008
    
    You need to consider how much of the 129 is development cost though, which I would imagine is pretty high on the Kinnect. Also, with the Yen performing the way it is against the dollar, it’s probably barely worth Bill getting out of bed for.
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  - jayjay119 [Member]
    26/11/2010 at 13:08
    
    Level 5
    Member since: Apr 2010
    
    Well in Japan Kinect is sellin at 14, 800 yen, which is about $176, rouchly £112, so it’s selling a lot cheaper in Japan than here.
    
    So that’s roughly £2,912,000, which is still a lot of money but like others have said you need to factor in fabrication costs. Price of fabrication (roughly) per Kinect unit is £36 ($56) so add that up it approx £936,000. So overall taking away production costs MS have made £1,976,000 from Kinect in Japan alone. Whilst not exactly poor, it’s nowhere near as good as it has been in other territories.
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  - cam the man [Member]
    26/11/2010 at 13:24
    
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    Member since: May 2009
    
    It will, more than likely, keep selling in Japan for a long time to come. Even in small numbers it all adds up.
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  - djhsecondnature [Kicking It]
    26/11/2010 at 17:14
    
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    Member since: Forever
    
    @jayjay119 – You forget that MS will not be taking all of that profit. There is the trade price they sell it to retailers, plus the cost for marketing, packaging, etc.
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  - cc_star [Team TSA: Writer]
    26/11/2010 at 17:44
    
    Level 8
    Member since: Forever
    
    Also you can’t compare prices in different countries on a like for like basis, $1 will allow you to buy things in different countries thanks to the price of materials, rents, wages, logisitcs, marketing, commodities etc.
    
    The only way to compare AFAIK is to use burgernomics.
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  - Boomshanks [Member]
    27/11/2010 at 15:56
    
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    Member since: Dec 2008
    
    And no one has accounted for the money spent on marketing the Kinect in Japan
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yogh_wayne [Member]
26/11/2010 at 17:05

Level 5
Member since: Oct 2008

Apart from the lower popularity, Kinect’s space requirements obviously cause some promblems in Japan. I’ve read that Microsoft provides special tape measures in the shops, so people can see if they got enough free space in front of their TVs. Cleverly it’s only half the length and there’s some fine print on the backside that you’ll need two lengths of the tape measure for Kinect :P
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- TSBonyman [Member]
  26/11/2010 at 19:29
  
  Level 6
  Member since: Dec 2009
  
  I saw that too and i guess they must have read the fine print – or else Japanese homes are even smaller than previously thought ! ;)
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solidsteven [Member]
26/11/2010 at 20:52

Level 6
Member since: May 2010

MS it’s not going to happen. Sony and Nintendo are too powerful in their home country.
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