Tech giant Microsoft has decided to delay the launch of the Xbox One in China. The company, however, declined to provide an explanation as to the delay of the popular gaming console, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Initially, Microsoft was targeting Sept. 23 of this year as the official release date of the Xbox One in China.
The arrival of the Xbox marks the end of the ban on video game consoles in China. For 15 years, the Chinese government prohibited foreign game consoles from entering the country due to their alleged detrimental effects on the education and overall development of children.
However, with the release date just around the corner, Microsoft announced that it will not unveil the console in China, according to Game Spot.
"Despite strong and steady progress, we are going to need a bit more time to deliver the best experiences possible for our fans in China," the company said in a press release.
"At Xbox, we pride ourselves on delivering first-rate gaming and entertainment experiences, and to allow us to deliver on that promise, we need to reschedule the launch of Xbox One," Microsoft added.
The company has not yet revealed the new release date for the Xbox One.
Despite the postponement, the company will still carry on with its Sept. 22 launch party for the Xbox One. The event will be held at the Orient Pearl Tower in Shanghai.
The party will give attendees an opportunity to play games through the console. In addition, 100 units of Xbox One will be given away at the event. These giveaway consoles will be shipped once Microsoft officially releases the Xbox On in China, Tech Times reported.
Enwie Xie, the general manager of Microsoft's Xbox division in China noted that those who have pre-ordered the consoles will receive them once Microsoft starts shipping the gaming devices.
China's Xbox One console will accommodate games from the U.S. as well as those from local developers such as Yingpei Games, Snail Games and Tencent.