Microsoft to launch Core 360 in Japan

Microsoft will once again attempt to make headway in the Japanese market with the release of the Xbox 360 Core system on November 2nd.

Retailing at 29,800 Yen (201 Euro), initially the system will come bundled with copies of Project Gotham Racing 3 and Ninety-Nine Nights. As well as these two titles, another three games will be re-released on the same day and labelled Xbox 360 Platinum Collection, retailing at 2,800 Yen (19 Euros) each.

The Core pack includes a hard drive, headset and wired controller.

Microsoft launched Xbox 360 in Japan last December. At present, only the premium pack, which includes a hard drive, is available in the territory. Despite the fact that the console went on sale at a significantly lower price point there than in the US and Europe, sales got off to a slow start and have yet to pick up.

The Xbox 360 Core system will hit retail shelves just over a week before Sonyâs launch of the PlayStation 3 on November 11th, which the firm recently confirmed will ship around 100,000 units for the region.