Japanese Xbox One launch will be 2014, Microsoft confirms

Microsoft has confirmed that the Xbox One will not release in Japan this year, but should be on the market in early 2014. Speaking in an interview with 4 Gamer, Microsoft Japan President Yasuyuki Higuchi described his home territory as "Tier 2 country."

There's clearly no judgement involved in that statement beyond a sensible measuring of market demands, given the sales of the previous Xboxes in Japan. Higuchi has promised that the One "won't be delayed too much from the North American release," according to a translation from DualShockers.

Previously, Microsoft had published a list of launch countries for the new console, with 21 nations listed. Japan was not on that list, so Higuchi's confirmation comes as no surprise.

Other countries in the Asia are expected to see the One launch in late 2014.