Xbox One release date in China is September; Price to be announced by Microsoft

XBox One gaming console

Microsoft Corporation has become the first foreign company that will sell gaming consoles in China after the country lifted a 14-year old ban on the product last January.

Its Xbox One will be the first system of its kind to launch in China. Microsoft did not announce a selling price, however.

Microsoft said its hugely popular Xbox One will hit China in September. It will launch the console in partnership with BesTV New Media Company. BesTV is a subsidiary of Shanghai Media Group, a multimedia television and radio broadcasting, news and Internet company.

Analysts said China's gaming market is dominated by PC, mobile and online games. China has always been seen as a key growth area for console makers. China, however, banned gaming consoles in 2000, claiming the games have an adverse effect on the mental health of young people.

Even without console games, the total gaming market in China is massive. The gaming industry generated revenues of $13 billion in 2013, up a huge 38% year-on-year. Most of this revenue came from PC gaming because of the ban on games consoles. As expected, the ban has hurt Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony.

"Launching Xbox One in China is a significant milestone for us and for the industry," said Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft corporate vice-president.

"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," he noted.

Mehdi said Microsoft's collaboration with BesTV is committed to providing opportunities for creators to unleash their imaginations for games, online education and fitness experiences for China and beyond.

"As part of our partnership, E-Home Entertainment is investing to establish an innovation program that will enable creators and developers to build, publish, and sell their games on Xbox One in China and in other markets where Xbox is available."

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