Microsoft were to launch the Xbox One in China tomorrow but have pulled the console at the very last minute, replacing the launch date with a vague “end of this year.”
The reason for the delay is to give Microsoft “a bit more time to deliver the best experiences possible for our fans.”
The company is promising an “added bonus” for those who were first in line for the console to make up for the delay, but are still going ahead with a launch event at Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl Tower during which 100 consoles will be given away.
Presumably they will be immediately taken back and kept in a cupboard at MS HQ until the end of the year.
“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,” a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement to Polygon. “Working with our partner, BesTV, we look forward to launching in China by the end of this year.”
The delay is rather significant, China has only recently lifted a ban on consoles being sold in the country and Xbox One was to be the first major launch. This could have given Microsoft a boost in sales to catch up to those of the PlayStation 4.
Sony and Nintendo have plans to launch in China and now have time to get to the market before Xbox One, denying Microsoft the head start the September launch would have given them.
Source: Polygon
Starman
Apparently the iphone6 has also been delayed. The government’s refusing approval for both I heard.
CR8ZYH0RSE
I wonder how the Xbox one will fare in China,if their tastes are similar to Japans then i don’t hold out much hope for them but if the Chinese take to it the potential is huge.It’s a vast market to be tapped into and it’s there for the taking.
Mr Blighty
Word on the street is that is was cancelled due to virtually no consumer interest. Microsoft were keen to avoid the press field day of yet another launch flop.
Pre-orders were in the low hundreds according to sources.
Starman
I read they had over 100k preorders. And didn’t you say the press were biased towards ms and were bashing Sony?
a inferior race
Mr blighty, please provide some evidence as I find that very hard to believe. Also, if that is true love, why did they launch in Japan.
Amphlett
According to my source, Dave in the Post Office, pre-orders were “quite high”.
matthangzhou
Strange tag line tuffcub. Is that a Google translate special?
“No xbox. Give you one”