3749

So, it seems the rumors about Microsoft having production issues are true. just confirmedtoday that launch will be delayed in eight European countries.

"At E3, we announced that Xbox One would be available in 21 markets around the world at launch. This was an aggressive goal and the team has been working very hard to deliver Xbox One to as many markets as possible.

Our priority is ensuring our customers get the best Xbox One experience the first day it is available. To do that, and in order to meet demand, we have adjusted the number of markets that will receive Xbox One in November to 13 markets, including Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Spain, United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand, in November.

Well - they just lost the console war in those countries, since Europe was already a Playstation heavy market. I guess thats also why they were selected.

Its getting ridiculous how poorly they are doing.

Edit: Eurogamer weighsin:

Apparently, MS will give a free game to everyone who purchases an Xbox in these countries :-D

Its going to be interesting just how much this just cost them, in terms of market share.

3750

If the rumors are true, they’ll still do poorer than PS4 anyway at the end of the year, even if both console sell out, just on the basis of units manufactured. I realize that’s based on rumor, but these kinds of rumors have turned out to be true so far.

3751

Are they just going to announce the exclusive Ultimate team thing again for FIFA?

The XBox has a release date doesn’t it. It’s kind of weird how Sony still hasn’t announced a release date for the console unless I missed it. I wonder if there is something going on with that or they’re just playing it close.

3752

Yeah, it makes sense to consolidate on the market they might actually win, the US. Europe is lost now most probably, and of course Japan was lost as well. It makes sense instead of spreading out and having too few machines all over the place.

3753

Neither has a release date. In the end, it will probably be irrelevant, considering they’ll probably both sell out their initial shipment. But I’d like to think they’ll both want to be out before Black Friday.

3754

It will be Fifa with an exclusive FIFA DANCE OFF edition where you can pretend to be Christian Ronaldo (Kinect optional).

3755

Hahaha.

3756

Read more closely, the countries listed in the quote are the countries that will be getting the Xbox in Nov. These are the most populous countries in Europe. The delayed countries, othen than Russia, are all of the smaller countries.

Its going to be interesting just how much this just cost them, in terms of market share.

Probably not all that much given the countries that will be getting it on time.

3757

Poor wording on my part - It still means that 8 countries, including the economically strong nordic countries will not be getting the Xbox this year, and those countries are lost.

Gamers in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland will have to wait until an unspecified date in the New Year to get their hands on the console.

Those are the markets affected, where the Xbox is not very strong even now.

3758

Without knowing a) the date of the PS4 launch or b) more details about the PS4, I wouldn’t say those markets are lost.

3759

We’ll know more next week.

3760

I don’t actually know but weren’t most of those markets firmly in the hands of Sony with the PS3 anyways? Considering how similar the xbox is to the PS4 now and considering how the PS4 will release earlier and how it will be $100 cheaper I think it’s a little over-optimistic to think this gen will be any different or to even give the xbox the benefit of the doubt (for those regions affected.)

3761

Indeed , they were :-)

3762

Some of them are already lost regardless.

They are (maybe not all of them. I’m Belgian, so I know the Belgian and Dutch markets better than the others) markets which are Playstation dominated already. For instance, n4g.com had an article 4 days ago - i.e. before the announcement - mentioning that 80% of next gen preorders were for the PS4 vs 20% for XBox One. The UK is an exception in the European market.

I don’t see any reason for that to change this generation. And no reason for MS to stretch their supplies thin on their account.

Wendelius

3763

Its pretty much the same in the Nordic Markets.

3764

Microsoft doesn’t exactly raises my confidence on delivering a good product. Even with all the evidence on hand delivered to them, they can’t even deal with a simple sexual harassment matter over at X-BoX Live. http://kotaku.com/microsofts-slow-response-to-xbox-harassment-leaves-one-1139807887

3765

That, to me, has no relation whatsoever to how good the Xbox One will be. It’s frustrating MS customer support, as usual, and likely better suited to another thread.

Wendelius

3766

As Xbox Live is pretty well mandatory for the XBone I think it is fine here.

3767

Right because mentioning requiring Xbox live on Xbox One and pointing out how hostile and unsafe that environment can be for women is somehow not appropriate in an Xbox one thread.

3768

Most of the comments on that article are depressing.