Microsoft Ends Xbox Support In Japan

[Andy Chalk]

Microsoft Ends Xbox Support In Japan

Microsoft [http://www.xbox.com] has announced it is terminating support for the Xbox in Japan, leaving experts to speculate on the likelihood that anyone will notice.

Effective March 3, Xbox 360 [http://www.microsoft.com/ja/jp/default.aspx] at no charge.

It's a good deal for owners and virtually risk-free for Microsoft. The Xbox didn't exactly set Japan on fire when it was released in 2002, selling somewhere shy of 500,000 units, and the odds of someone needing warranty service at this point are, in all likelihood, very close to zero. And if a half-dozen or so people do end up claiming replacements under the exchange deal, Microsoft gets to increase its Japanese market share by a percentage point or two. Either way, everybody wins.

Source: Kotaku [http://kotaku.com/5149312/no-more-xbox-support-for-japan]


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[mattttherman3]

You just know that there will be someone who doesn't want the 360 and makes a huge fuss about it not being fair.

 

[fix-the-spade]

500'000 units?

Blimey, I never realised it bombed quite that spectacularly.

 

[Merciless.Fire]

For a moment I thought this was cutting support for the xbox360. Hehe yeah Xbox although taking America's better internet connection and continuing the online service from dreamcast really did make a difference for the Xbox.

I would have laughed.

 

[Grand_Poohbah]

Wow that's an awesome trade in.

 

[Jumplion]

In all honesty, I always thought the far East got their old consoles through the blackmarket.

 

[9of9]

You just know that, regardless of the number of units sold though, there's going to be a surge of two million or more 'defective' product warranty claims after this announcement.

 

[ellimist337]

If my XBOX was still under warranty, I'd break it on purpose in some non-obvious way just to get the trade in for the 360. Doesn't seem like a bad deal. If you really want an original XBOX for a server or whatever, just buy a used one for 20 bucks.

 

[WingedFortress]

This has the potential to be a complete nightmare.