Posted Wed Apr 30, 2014 at 08:17 AM PDT by Brian Hoss
"Xbox One will also be the first system of its kind to launch in China."
Microsoft has announced that their partnership with BesTV New Media will enable a September date for the Xbox One in China. Though other details, such as price and launch features have not yet been shared, the move by Microsoft comes after the 14 year ban on console sales was lifted, at least, in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone. What remains now is to see how Microsoft's Xbox One business model for China will handle both the country's median income and history of pirating games. The original global plan for the Xbox One, which revolved around DRM through online check-ins and strict region locks would seem to have best suited the piracy issue, but getting Xbox One players online in China outside of the Shanghai FTZ presents another challenge.
From Microsoft, "The culture of games and entertainment is rapidly growing in China, with nearly half a billion people playing games – roughly a third of the country’s population and more than the entire population of North America. The gaming industry saw massive growth in the last year - generating more than $13 billion in 2013, an increase of 38% in the last year alone. Gamers in China have shown they love gaming – mostly on PC, mobile and online - and game developers in China have been delivering innovative games for years. Creators and gamers alike have eagerly awaited a new generation of entertainment experiences in China."
"On behalf of the entire Xbox team, we are incredibly excited to bring Xbox One and the next generation of games, entertainment, online education and fitness to China. Launching Xbox One in China is a significant milestone for us and for the industry, and it’s a step forward in our vision to deliver the best games and entertainment experiences to more fans around the world. Enwei Xie will lead Xbox China as general manager, bringing years of Microsoft experience both in China and abroad."
"BesTV, a subsidiary of Shanghai Media Group and a worldwide leader in home entertainment technology, is the ideal partner to help us bring our vision to life in China. BesTV has a rich history of delivering innovative entertainment content and an extensive catalog of content to share with future Xbox One owners in China."
Source: Xbox Wire
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