Xbox One was all set to launch in China on September 23rd, but it was delayed unexpectedly delayed earlier this week. The company didn’t give out any reason for the delay, but it could be due to regulatory approvals. Microsoft faced problems in China earlier this year due to anti-trust issues related to Windows and Microsoft Office. However, gamers in China will be able to get their hands on the console from September 29th, for 3,699 yuan (almost $600) for the standalone console, while the Kinect Bundle will come wit ha 4,299 yuan (almost $700) price tag.
China is one of the biggest tech markets in the world. The country lifted the 14-year old ban on gaming consoles earlier this year, after which Microsoft announced it will bring the Xbox One to the region, in collaboration with BesTV.
“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 and a broad offering of entertainment and app experiences to the platform in the months to come.” -Enwei Xie, Microsoft’s general manager for Xbox China
It’s not just the console, the games have to be approved by the regulatory authorities, and must follow a strict set of censorship guidelines. At launch, only 10 games will go on sale in the region, including Forza Motorsport 5, Kinect Sports Rivals, Powerstar Golf, Zoo Tycoon, Max: The Curse of Brotherhood, Dance Central Spotlight, Neverwinter Online, Rayman Legends, Trials Fusion, and the Chinese-developed Naughty Kitties. More blockbuster games will be released in the coming months.
