Microsoft announced Tuesday that it has decided to change the date for its Xbox One game console's release in China to Sept. 29.
The launch of the Xbox One marks the first time that China has allowed foreign game consoles to be released in the country in 14 years, as the console ban was lifted earlier this year, according to Reuters.
The Redmond, Washington-based software giant has yet to reveal a reason as to why it changed the console's release date, which was originally Sept. 23.
Chinese officials imposed a ban on consoles in 2000 after deciding they were having a dangerous effect on children and adolescents, CNET reported.
The launch was canceled on Sunday, but Microsoft says it will offer two free games in order to make up for pre-orders.
Microsoft said the Xbox One will be available for 3,699 yuan ($602.76) and 4,299 yuan ($700.53) with the Kinect motion detection system, Reuters reported.
Approval from Shanghai's local culture department is needed to make sure console games don't cause damage to China's national unity, reputation and territorial integration. Game developers also have to make sure their titles don't promote racial hatred, gambling, obscenity, drugs or violence in order to publish them in the country.
"After receiving government approval for the first wave of games, we've decided to launch with digital copies of the first 10 games now and will continue our work to bring more blockbuster games on a broad offering of entertainment and app experiences to the platform in the months to come," said Enwei Xie, general manager for Xbox China.
Microsoft is looking to make the Xbox One available in 4,000 stores in 37 cities, according to CNET.
The console will go on sale in China and come with 10 games approved by the government, such as "Dance Central Spotlight" and "Forza Motorsport 5." The company also plans on making 70 more games available in China, one of which is "Halo: The Master Chief Collection."
