The Xbox Series X sales have increased significantly in Japan following the announcement of a PlayStation 5 price increase which will go into effect next week.
As reported by Automaton, on Yodobashi, one of Japan's biggest retailers, the console reached number 8 in the games and consoles charts this morning, which is an amazing result, considering the system wasn't even in the top 100 yesterday. With the PS5's price increase, the Xbox Series X has become an enticing purchase, as it now costs the equivalent of $100 less. In addition, it seems like it has become difficult for Japanese players to even purchase a PlayStation 5 system, as the pre-rise stock has been completely sold out at most retailers.
Considering how much the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S have struggled in Japan since release, this is definitely good news for Microsoft as it gears up to release new models of both systems, including a Series X All-Digital model coming with a 2TB SSD. On the other hand, the negative sentiment surrounding the PlayStation 5 couldn't have surfaced at a worse time, with Sony supposedly preparing to announce the PlayStation 5 Pro early next month. The increased specs over the base and the PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution upscaler, which will make the system feel even more powerful than it actually is, may not be enough to convince Japanese customers to pay more to play titles that are also coming on Xbox Series X, such as the upcoming Monster Hunter Wilds, which has been cited by many on Japanese social media as the game that made them want to purchase a PlayStation 5.
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack. After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA's president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3. When he's not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
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