Only one Xbox 360 SKU available in Japan

Microsoft has revealed the Japanese launch details for the Xbox 360, which is set to hit Japanese retail on December 10th. Unlike in North America and Europe, Japan will not have the option of two SKUs, but will have to make do with just the Xbox 360 package complete with the 20GB hard drive. For 37,900 yen you will get the Xbox 360 console, 20GB detachable hard drive, wireless controller, media remote control, a component HD-AV cable, Ethernet cable and some batteries. The first batch of consoles in Japan will also contain a free headset.

Although no “Core” system was announced the possibility of the Xbox 360 being released without the hard drive has not been ruled out for the future. Perhaps Microsoft has big plans for Japan that require the hard drive to be in place. We will find out soon enough.

At launch seven games will be available: Ridge Racer 6, Frame City, Dead or Alive 4, Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, (eM)-eNCHANT-arM, Tetris: The Grandmaster Ace, and Everyparty. Although lacking in numbers there looks to be some real quality there with the likes of Ridge Racer and Dead or Alive looking like key titles for the Japanese launch.

There will also be other games released in the launch period running up to and including January 2006. The games confirmed for release in this period are Dynasty Warriors 5 Special, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, Wrestle Kingdom, Ninety-Nine Nights, Project Gotham Racing 3, and Tengai Makyou Ziria.

“This holiday season, gamers in Japan, Europe and North America pining to experience jaw-dropping high-definition graphics, unmatched online play and compelling digital entertainment features of Xbox 360 will finally have the chance,” said chief Xbox officer Robbie Bach. “Renowned development studios around the world are busy putting the finishing touches on their Xbox 360 games. We expect a strong portfolio of titles on launch day and through the holidays that will appeal to fans of every genre and gamers in every region, and with more than 200 games currently in development, continuous new additions to the library are on the way.“

27 Xbox 360 games will be on show at the Xbox 360 booth at the Tokyo Game Show, with many in playable form.

Games on show (Bold expected to be playable):

ââ¬Ã‚¢ (eM)-eNCHANT-arM (FromSoftware Inc.)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Bomberman — Act Zero (Hudson Soft Co. Ltd.)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Call of Duty 2 (Activision Inc.)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Chromehounds (Sega)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Dead Rising (Capcom)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Dynasty Warriors 5 Special (Koei Co. Ltd.)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Everyparty (Microsoft Game Studios)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Far East of Eden — Ziria (Hudson Soft)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Final Fantasy XI (Square Enix Co. Ltd.)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Frame City Killer (Namco)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Gears of War (Microsoft Game Studios)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Kameo: Elements of Power (Microsoft Game Studios)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Mobile Suit Gundam (tentative title) (Bandai Co. Ltd.)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Need for Speed Most Wanted (Electronic Arts)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Ninety-Nine Nights (Microsoft Game Studios)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ The Outfit (THQ)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Project Gotham Racing 3 (Microsoft Game Studios)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Resident Evil 5 (Capcom)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Ridge Racer 6 (Namco)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Rumble Roses XX (tentative title) (Konami)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Shutoku Battle (tentative title) (Genki Co. Ltd.)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Saint’s Row (THQ)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Test Drive Unlimited (Atari Inc.)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter (Ubisoft Entertainment)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ World Air Force (tentative title) (Taito Corp.)

ââ¬Ã‚¢ Wrestle Kingdom (Yuke’s Co. Ltd.)