Xbox One X had a launch event at The Oberoi in New Delhi where it was unveiled at 45k rupees which is about $650. That is no a bad price at all considering PS4 launched at 40k rupees which at 2013 exchange rates was $670. That was a $400 console and this a $500 console. PS4 500GB is currently available at 28k rupees which is $400 while Xbox One S costs 21k rupees which is $300. PS4 still sells way better but Xbox One has been making up some ground since the release of Forza Horizon 3.

Racing games are very popular here and IGN scores can make or break a game in terms of sales so if Microsoft keeps bringing in racing games every year that get 9.0 and above on IGN and Sony keeps fucking the consumers with their pricing strategy Xbox could make a comeback and I hope they do because PlayStation brings no discounts at all and that's just bad for consumers.

Including taxes I presume?

Yes

What are the economics behind releasing a console in a poor country but making it more expensive? Is it all taxes on importing the product into the country?

Wouldn't it be cheaper for someone in India to purchase the console from somewhere else since it's region free.

Custome duties for electronics is 28.852%. Thing is that both Sony and Microsoft could circumvent this by manufacturing consoles and games in the country itself. Its close to the Gulf states too so it would be great for all these areas.

It is cheaper to import but there is no warranty which is a big deal when it comes to expensive electronics.

Well, in Russia X1X 40k rubles (707$). PS4Pro 32k rubles (566$)

Ya south east Asia had strong tariffs and taxation that makes it really annoying. I was tempted to buy ps2 back in the day there, because I was stuck in the summer. It just was unreasonable.

Honestly that's a pretty good price. I can't imagine what it would be in Thailand or Vietnam; I have a friend over there that we were trying to find any laptop for whatsoever and they were almost always at least twice the US price due largely to some insane import taxes.

India isn't nearly that bad, though. Still, not a bad price though I can't imagine there's many people interested in it over there.

Right... all japanese corps pay their tax....

http://www.japan-press.co.jp/modules/news/index.php?id=9566

Looking at amazon India and hearing Anecdotal reports ps4 absolutely dominates the Indian Market. Sony should start producing them in India though, because if they did sales would see a very large increase with the drop in price.