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China Xbox One Launch Delayed
The launch of the Xbox One was supposed to happen on September 23, but Microsoft needs a little more time.
A representative from Microsft offered the following statement about the delay:
Despite strong and steady progress, we are going to need a bit more time to deliver the best experiences possible for our fans in China. At Xbox, we pride ourselves on delivering first-rate gaming and entertainment experiences, and to allow us to deliver on that promise, we need to reschedule the launch of Xbox One. Working with our partner, BesTV, we look forward to launching in China by the end of this year. We’re looking forward to hosting our fans and partners in China on Sept. 22 at the Oriental Pearl Tower as planned, and will have hands-on gameplay, entertainment and Xbox One giveaways.
Video game consoles have been banned in China for a long time, hence the popularity of PC gaming. The ban has been temporarily lifted, however, which is why Microsoft is eager to enter the market. The new launch for the console in China – which is being done in partnership with BesTV – will be before the end of the year, but Microsoft isn't able to offer much more than that in terms of a specific release date.
Our Take
This is disappointing for China, and also atypical in terms of delays. Console release dates are usually fairly solid, and even if they do receive delay, consumers are usually given a little more heads up than less than a week. China has waited this long for a console though/ I'm sure it won't mind waiting a little longer.
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