|
The world's biggest software company gave no
reason for the delay in the launch which was originally
scheduled for Sept. 23.
The delay is the latest in a series of setbacks for Microsoft in
China, where it is under investigation for suspected anti-trust
violations related to the Windows operating system and Microsoft
Office.
"We take great care to ensure that we meet or exceed regulatory
standards," said Microsoft in an e-mail to Reuters in response
to the delayed console launch.
The Xbox One console will cost 3,699 yuan ($602.76) without the
Kinect motion detection system and 4,299 yuan ($700.53) with
Kinect, Microsoft said.
China is the world's third-biggest gaming market where revenues
grew by more than a third from 2012 to nearly $14 billion last
year.
Console games must also get approval from Shanghai's local
culture department, which will ensure they do not harm China's
national unity, territorial integrity or reputation - or promote
racial hatred, obscenity, gambling, violence or drugs. This
could stop some of video games' biggest franchises, such as
Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty, from being published in
China.
"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, said in a press
release.
In May, Sony Corp) said it would set up a joint venture with
Shanghai Oriental Pearl Group to bring the PlayStation games
console to China.
Microsoft makes the Xbox One console with Chinese internet TV
set-top box maker BesTV New Media Co Ltd.
(1 US dollar = 6.1368 Chinese yuan)
(Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Jeremy Laurence)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
