Over 6 years since its launch The X360 has sold only 1.6 million units. At around 250k average per year in Japan. The original XBox in 4  years did not even sell 1 million units in Japan. XBox and X360 combined sold around 2.5 million units sold in Japan in 10 years.

Why does Microsoft continue with the X360 in Japan?

IMHO from a business perspective it would be more profitable and cost effective for Microsoft to abandon the Japan market. Wouldn't it be more profitable and cost effective for Microsoft to sell in all other regions outside Japan?

Feel free to shed light on this issue.

If I had to guess, they're trying to stay in the market so that the NextBox has an established fanbase in advance for the 8th generation. That way, if Sony collapses like some say it might, Microsoft would be able to pick up a lot of PS3 owners who are unwilling to move onto the Wii U.

Besides, Microsoft is an international company. Unlike, say, Nintendo,I bet they have the infrastructure to sell all sorts of things around the world.

They make a profit in japan and that is why they should leave the market? Attach rate for retail games is pretty high.

I don´t know man, M$ did everything possible to attract the japanese market with huge price reductions or making a large number of bundles, but nothing seems to works, maybe some JRPGs did a little effect in sales like lost oddyssey or infinite undiscovery, but it was a mirage, right now the 360 is selling less than the ps2, YES the ps2.

A lot of Xbox fans will say that this is because the japanese people are nationalistic and they don´t buy products came from America, BUT HEY, brands like Apple and many others sell A LOT (especially Apple)

I would love to speak my mind about the main reason the 360 aint selling in Japan, but there is a good chance i would get banned.

ROFL!!

cause they have to maintain market share of presence out there and a hope that future console could build on that

if MS ever want to completely dominate the console buisness they would have to do pretty good in JAPAN which is SONY and NINTY's home turf

till the time SONY and NINTY Keeps getting that money in japan,they can keep their console afloat

I think it's important for MS to show the Japanese developers what the machine is capable of and keep the support they are getting from them.. if they couldn't buy the machine and more importantly couldn't play the other games in their own country there wouldn't be as much of support.. and to rub it in Polyphonys face that you can make a good race game within 2-3 years..

The same reason why they don't abandon 90% of the other countries. 1.6 million is quite a figure for a single country. It would be stupid.

How about this. You send me a message stating your reasons, and I'll put it down as my own words.

Worst case scenario, I get some internet cred.