Although the situation has improved a lot, Microsoft still does not have an acceptable penetration in Japan. Yes, from time to time we read exciting news about the situation improving, but the truth is that if we compare it with its rivals, it is light years away from them. The Japanese market is very resistant to the Xbox, and perhaps the early years of One and its abandonment of that market have greatly eroded Japanese faith in the brand.
However, I have no doubt that the company’s latest moves will help it reclaim that loyal user base that has been lost along the way in this market. Satya Nadella himself reflected on how his acquisition strategy with Activision Blizzard and King could help them improve in Japan.
Forza Horizon 5 pleases Japan
The fact is that today we have news, although not directly related to an acquisition, it clearly shows that the investment in Playground Games has been a success for those in Redmond. And it is that, for the first time in 7 years, a game from Xbox Game Studios sneaks into the top 30 best-selling games in Japanese territory.
Obviously, this is Forza Horizon, and ranked number 15 if we are talking about physical sales. Famitsu took care of giving the specific data.
I still think a Japan-based episode would be ideal for the franchise. The community keeps asking for something like this to happen, and heck, who wouldn’t want to drive the streets of Tokyo? !
Jose Angel
I’ve been running this house since 2014. I love playing all things directing and I’m an avid fan of Microsoft products.
