Report: Xbox One Is Struggling in South Korea
While the Xbox One is actually drawing lines in China, a report out of Korea says the console is, so far, having a rough go in the region.
According to popular Korean site Game Focus (via tipster Sang), the Xbox One reportedly sold less than 200 units at the console's big launch event at Times Square in Seoul. All the consoles sold at the event were via pre-orders, but the numbers, however, have not been confirmed.
Granted, this seems far better than the console 's launch at Yodobashi Camera in Tokyo's Akihabara. Currently, the Xbox One appears to be tanking terribly in Japan. The Xbox One, though, apparently did not meet launch expectations at this Times Square event. (Hopefully, it did meet the expectations of the fan who lined up way in advance!)
In comparison, Game Focus reports that the PS4 launch event sold over 440 consoles.
Below, you can see photos from the Xbox One launch.
[Photo: Korea Times]
According to The Korea Times, "a crowd of video game fans pack the Microsoft's Xbox One launch event." The Korea Times reported that "hundreds" of gamers gathered at the event.
Here are more photos of the event.
[Photos: Plone]
[Photo: Noteforum]
Wow! This looks pretty packed. Then, you see the overhead view...
[Photo: Noteforum]
Folks showed up. That's good.
[Photo: Donga]
And the wider view... Though, I bet this was taken before the above photo, so please take that into account.
[Photo: ThisIsGame]
[Photo: Bodnara]
And some photos as the event was drawing to a close.
[Photos: Yepan]
Just to be clear, Game Focus is not saying the launch was totally dead and nobody showed up. As you can see in the above photos, people did show up.
But to put this into context, here are some other crowds gathered at the same Times Square shopping mall.
[Photo: YouTube]
A flashmob for, uh, CPR.
[Photo: NewsTomato]
A Windows 8 hands-on event.
[Photo: Ruliweb]
A Monster Hunter event.
[Photo: Exeller]
A pop group. Obviously, free music concerts are going to draw the biggest crowds.
The big difference is, of course, the Xbox One event had pre-orders costing hundreds of dollars. These are pre-orders you could do via online retailers without ever leaving your home. Likewise, that should be taken into account.
That being said, one source from an unnamed game publisher is quoted as telling Game Focus(via Sang), 'We are already looking to reconsider Xbox One game releases in Korea and will likely ship lesser units on those that are confirmed for a release. If a title is multiplatform, it's likely to have only PS4 release in Korea. There is a common feeling that the Korean market is not big enough to sustain two consoles, so it's better to support focus support on one console."
From the sound of it, things are difficult in retail shops. "We've had two of our stores in a large gaming population focused on selling Xbox One, but the sales figure was low beyond imagination," one retail manager for a large discount chain told Game Focus. "I can't disclose exact figures, but each store sold less than two digit units."
Continuing, the retail manager added, "We are asking Microsoft Korea what we should do and for some sort of counter measure, but I think they are in the same boat. This situation where you can't do anything is devastating."
The PlayStation 4 was released in South Korea last December. The Xbox One hit South Korea this month. In a region that is already dominated by PC gaming, Microsoft has to cover so much ground simply to catch up. Recently, Sony Korea has been trying to woo Korean PC developers to bring their games to the PlayStation 4, doing things like offering a PlayStation college course.
Microsoft always offers an excellent online experience and an array of incredibly strong first-party titles. It's truly baffling that the Xbox One handed such a headstart to the PS4 in countries like South Korea. Guess Microsoft figured PC gaming has such a strong hold on Korean gamers.
Kotaku is following up with Microsoft regarding these Korean sales figures and will update this story should the company comment.
[게임매장 리포트]XBOX ONE 매장들 분통 "판매량 너무 저조, 특단의 대책 필요" [Game Focus Thanks, Sang!]
Top photo: Plone
http://kotaku.com/report-xbox-one-is-struggling-in-south-korea-1640676883
