Microsoft’s Xbox One has launched in Japan nine months after the release of the current-generation console in Europe and the United States, with a special event hosted in Akihabara, Tokyo to mark the occasion.
Along with the release of the new console, Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes was one of the launch titles in the region, with publisher Konami offering a special discount on the title at 980 Yen (which is approximately $10 in the U.S. and £6 in the UK) until September 21st.
Ground Zeroes was released earlier this year in March for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One, with Hideo Kojima, creator and director of Metal Gear Solid, confirming at Gamescom 2014 that both Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain will be released on Steam in the near future.
XboxOne発売、おめでとうございます！ pic.twitter.com/xNuLPobuUA
— 小島プロダクション (@kojima_pro) September 3, 2014
Phil Spencer, head of Xbox division, explained earlier this week on Xbox Wire that the Xbox One will be heading to 29 markets in September, which includes China, Russia, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Japan, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Singapore, South Africa and Taiwan.
Spencer also added that the twenty-ninth country, Argentina, will receive more details regarding the launch of the Xbox One in the country very soon.
“But what makes September truly special is that gamers from 28 additional countries will get to experience the games and entertainment on Xbox One for the very first time,” Spencer said. “I know that many of you have waited patiently since we first announced Xbox One. And it has been very important to both me and the team that we launch with a great experience in your market.”
Hideo Kojima announced during Sony’s pre-Tokyo Game Show presentation that there will be further details regarding his upcoming open-world stealth title, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, at TGS in 2 weeks’ time. Further information on that story can be found here.
Running on Kojima Productions’ Fox Engine, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain has not received an official release date, but the title is rumoured for release in Q1 of 2015 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.