Microsoft announced its next-gen gaming console, Xbox One, will be available in stores in China Sept. 29, revising its earlier decision to delay the launch till the end of this year.
Gamers in China, who were disappointed with the news of a delayed launch of Xbox One in the country, can now relax as Microsoft has decided to release the coveted console on Sept 26, according to a latest report by Reuters.
With the launch of Xbox One this week, Microsoft will be the first foreign gaming console to be officially sold in China. Microsoft and other foreign tech companies were banned from selling their products in the country but after a lot of hustle, the Chinese government lifted the 13-year-old ban last year. In April, the software giant scheduled the release of Xbox One in September. But last week, Microsoft said the console will not be launched until later this year as it needed more time for the "final preparations."
For its Chinese release, the software giant is building a modified version of the Xbox One at a slightly higher price. The company will compensate the higher price tag with discounted rates on compatible games. The software giant is already working with 25 Chinese developers to release 70 new games for the console. It has partnered with Shanghai-based BesTV to push start its Xbox business in China, a country of more than half a billion gamers.
According to Microsoft's general manager for Xbox China, Enwei Xie, the Chinese government has already approved the first 10 games to be released in the country. The game developers must ensure the games designed for China do not harm the country's unity or portray hatred, obscenity, gambling, violence and drugs. These limitations will exclude some of the bestselling titles like Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto from being released.
Microsoft is expected to sell the Xbox One in China for $3,699 yuan, around $600 .in 37 cities through 4,000 retail outlets across the country. Some of the retailers in Beijing are already taking pre-orders for the device and shipments will begin once the console is launched in the country. According to a report byPC World, Microsoft is allowed to sell 5 million units of Xbox One in the country.
