The Xbox One is the first gaming console approved for sale in China through the new Shanghai Free Trade Zone.
Just days after preorders opened for the console, Microsoft today announced that the Xbox One will launch in China on September 23. The system will be available in a 3699 RMB ($600) bundle that includes a system (it is unclear if Kinect is included) and copies of Powerstar Golf and Neverwinter Online, as well as free access to Xbox Live Gold through March 2015.
In addition, this bundle will include a localized Chinese interface with local payment options, a two-year warranty, and access to the BesTV entertainment experience, Microsoft said. BesTV is a major Chinese media company serving as Microsoft's partner in bringing the Xbox One to China.
A special 4299 RMB ($700) Xbox One Day One edition will also be available in China at launch. It includes the system, a Kinect camera, a commemorative controller, and a day one achievement for your Xbox Live profile. The bundle also includes copies of Kinect Sports Rivals, Forza Motorsport 5: Racing Game of the Year, Neverwinter Online Commemorative Edition, and Powerstar Golf with some in-game credit.
Xbox One owners in China will also have access BesTV programming, including two free movies per month. Sports programming (such as the English Premier League) will also be available--free for the first year. In addition, the full Xbox Fitness library will come to Xbox One in China, along with a new experience, Tai Chi, which will be first available in China. Special local apps, including QQ Music, Douban FM, GameFY, and Karaoke Master, are also headed to Xbox One in China.
The Xbox One is the first gaming console approved for sale in China through the new Shanghai Free Trade Zone. For the past decade and a half, consoles were blocked from sale in China over fears that such systems posed a threat to the mental health of children. Microsoft isn't the only major platform holder eyeing the Chinese market, as Sony said earlier this year that it also has plans to bring its PlayStation brand to China, though details are not yet finalized.
According to Microsoft, there will be a "rich lineup" of Xbox One games for sale in China, ranging from free-to-play offerings to blockbuster titles. Games will range in price from 99 RMB ($16) to 249 RMB ($40), Microsoft said. Microsoft's launch lineup for the Xbox One in China includes the following:
Post a Comment