Confirmed: Asia Pacific launch delayed

by Christopher Grant { Jan 27th 2006 at 1:00PM }

The rumors were true; the impending launch of the Xbox 360 in Australia and New Zealand, as well as Hong Kong and Singapore (Taiwan?) will be delayed several weeks. From their statement:

In Hong Kong and Singapore, the Xbox 360 will now be released on March 16, 2006. In Australia and New Zealand, the new launch date is March 23, 2006.

The new launch dates have been set due to unprecedented global consumer demand stemming from challenges in ramping supply for a complex product like the Xbox 360. This is a short term manufacturing challenge and steps have been taken to increase supply to meet the strong consumer demand for the console.

Surely a frustrating situation for anyone waiting to get their mitts on one; however, with the current shortages, for those couple weeks, 360s might have been pretty scarce anyways. We're guessing the launches in Mexico, Colombia, and Korea are still scheduled for February then.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

SickNic @ Jan 27th 2006 2:08PM

"The new launch dates have been set due to unprecedented global consumer demand..."

Unprecedented global demand? So Microsoft wasn't expecting to sell more than a million units during this launch? Unprecedented would have been if MS sold 2 million units and they were still sold out. The demand is not unprecedented. The demand is not being met.

Big Ice D @ Jan 27th 2006 3:20PM

I think I figured out where all those 360's in my local stores came from ;)

Sorry Steve Irwin.

C. Grant @ Jan 27th 2006 3:52PM

Marketing android must have wrote it.

no @ Jan 27th 2006 8:00PM

argh screw you all.

i want my 360

(i'm in australia)

Smotchberry @ Jan 27th 2006 8:32PM

MSOFT should have released the Xbox in the Asia Pacfic countries first rather than Japan.

They would have sold a lot more and would have had more time to let the Japanese developers finish off their games, so that the launch wouldn't have been so terrible.

Demand for the Xbox 360 is definitely high down here in Singapore, and I am sure the same thing goes for Australia and all the other AP countries.

Just hope they sort out all these production issues before the PS3 is launched.

J Low @ Jan 27th 2006 9:01PM

Good.

Sorry to folks who live in those regions, but it was a stupid move of MS to attempt a worldwide launch when they have so obviously blown the whole "Get it to everyone!" plan. It's been out here (the U.S.) since November and here we are at the cusp of it being February and you still will be hard-pressed to get your mitts on one.

I would love for everybody in the world to get one right now and get to play with it, but it just ain't gonna happen.

CRP Addict @ Jan 28th 2006 10:46PM

LOL !

There is no "unprecedented global consumer demand", only "total lack of stock due to poor manufacture process".

Crazyglues @ Jan 29th 2006 1:48PM

That's the spin MSFT would have you believe.. The truth which people don't seem to be able to see because their too blinded by lust for the X360 is as CRP Addict said "There is no "unprecedented global consumer demand", only "total lack of stock due to poor manufacture process".

The funny thing is you can tell stupid people anything and not have to show any real proof, and they will believe you, because technically it�s not a lie, it�s just the political spin on it, - Do you see the glass half full or half empty�. LoL� You miss the sales numbers of 3 to 4 million � no problem just lower them, we now expect to sell 4.5 million to 5.5 million by June�. (Yeah ok sure you will�.)

So the next time some president tells you he has weapons of mass destruction that�s why were going to war � you might want to double check that.

No matter how much you love X360 and you�re such a super fanboy the launch has been terrible � If it�s been the worst ever or not is not in question because, one thing is clear � it has been bad - period�

And the game delays, scary� Makes me feel like I could have waited till June to get mine, because the only thing I play on it is PGR3 � A truly amazing game, but the only one of it�s kind � nothing else seems to be next gen, not even close.

Brandon Elkins @ Jan 29th 2006 7:20PM

Now I'm wondering if I'll be able to get one any time soon here in the US...are they pulling the launch back from lack of stock, or just to sell those systems they have in the US where the media machine has been stirring up a frenzy? Yeah this launch has been horrible, but I still want one :-)

darkbhudda @ Jan 31st 2006 9:27PM

Dang nab it. Smotchberry echoes my exact thoughts. Why release in Japan, when you have markets that actually have high demand and will buy the games?
Australia is always screwed over by the console makers and game developers. There are a huge number of games that get released in the US that don't get released here, or take nearly a year. There's also games released in Europe that never reach our shores.
Once in a while we get a game before the other territories, but since there are no reviews, there are no sales and it is discontinued very quickly.

I was going to put money down for a deposit tomorrow. I am only buying an Xbox360 for Elder Scrolls IV, so I was going to be waiting a few weeks anyway. Now it will probably be a few months due to lack of consoles.

I wonder how many people will just buy a US console instead?