Microsoft has always had its eyes on the Japanese game market for the Xbox 360. While sales for the 360 haven’t been anywhere close to the numbers achieved in the United States and around the world, Microsoft may have seen some light at the end of the tunnel, in the form of Gears of War, as the FPS has placed in the top ten game sales charts in Japan.
Earlier this week, indications that Gears may have broken the violence barrier in Japan became apparent when there were reported sell-outs of the game at popular retail chain stores. This would be a first for the gaming industry, as shooters have traditionally not been very successful in the country. But according to Japanese website Media Create, Gears of War, which was released on January 18, tallied 33,212 sales in its first week of availability, ending up seventh on the top 10 game sales chart.
Although it cannot yet be determined if Gears has finally cracked open the floodgates to a larger Japanese gaming audience, it does show that gaming trends in Japan may be finally changing. Sales and popularity of Gears of War may also open doors for additional Xbox 360 sales in the country, which could help to establish the American-made console as a viable alternative to the Wii and PS3. But regardless of whether 360 sales increase as a result of the release of Gears, it is still good news for Microsoft that its game is becoming a hit in Japan.
