Recognized game and anime editor says Xbox isn't supportive of Japanese games

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Dec 17, 2013
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It's no secret that Microsoft has always struggled in Japan when it comes selling Xbox hardware and games. Since the launch of the Xbox One, they've also struggled to secure the release of Japanese games on their latest gaming console.
Why is that the case though? Well, in a recent interview between MCV and NIS America's president Takuro Yama****a, part of the reason behind this may have been revealed.
NIS America, also known as Nippon Ichi Software, is an American video game editor and anime company that brings licensed content to North America and Europe. They're known for localizing Japanese games and anime to the United States. While we always knew that Xbox lacked mindshare in Japan and that impacted game and hardware sales, there is another reason which leads to problems when Japanese developers want to bring their games to Microsoft's consoles.
Yama****a said that Microsoft has strict requirements when publishing to Xbox. He said that Microsoft requires a minimum order when publishing on their devices. For niche games which may not have a massive following in the United States, especially with Xbox One owners, that minimum amount is way above what they expect to sell. Even if they're committed to bringing their games to the console, the requirements are just too much. Even if publishers were to look past the low popularity of the Xbox One in Japan—the main factor—this requirement prevents them from bringing games over.

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