Viva Brasilia! 360 in Brazil next month [update 1]
Microsoft announced its plans to launch the Xbox 360 in Brazil yesterday. Microsoft's launch will mark the first time that any company has officially introduced a console in Brazil. Until now, gamers were forced to import/pirate their gaming goodness. The Brazilian 360 bundle will be available on December 1st and will include a Premium 360, a media remote, Kameo, Perfect Dark Zero, and Project Gotham Racing 3. The price for the bundle will be R$2999 (US$1400!). The price seems exorbitant, especially considering 360s are already unofficially selling for half as much. Games will run R$169 (US$79). According to our tipster, many titles will be available (in Portuguese) this year -- including Gears of War. Xbox Live should launch shortly after launch.
Speaking of the launch, David Cervantes, Director of Microsoft's Latin America games and entertainment division, said, "We have learned in Mexico and Colombia that when we come ahead of our competitors, our market share can double just by being the first. If we get a critical mass, it's very difficult for us [to] lose our lead."
Microsoft's continued policy of launching in as many territories as possible -- they launched in India last month -- may have a profound effect on how the next generation pans out. With more international money to be made, the 360 will only become more attractive to developers. Also, this gives foreign developers a reason to develop games for their own territories as well. With games coming mostly from Japan, America, and western Europe for decades, it will be interesting to see how many more international players join the 360 development scene. Would any of our Brazilian readers care to comment?
[Via Joystiq. Thanks, Lobato]
Update: Brazil will be recieving PGR3, not PGR4. Unless they have a form of time travel of which I am not aware.
