Microsoft has finally revealed that Xbox One will launch on November 22, 2013 in a total of 13 markets. Additional markets will be added throughout 2014.
The markets that will get their hands on Xbox One first include Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, UK, and USA. Production is now underway on assembling the Xbox One Day One edition consoles that will be ready to play beginning on November 22.
Speaking of Day One Editions, Microsoft has stated that they have sold through Xbox One pre-orders faster than Xbox or Xbox 360. As a result, the Day One Edition version of the console is already sold out at many retailers including Amazon.com, Target, Walmart and GameStop.
However, Best Buy is still accepting pre-orders for a non-bundled Xbox One Day One Edition console at $499.99. Today’s release date news might speed up the sell out process there as well.
Click here to pre-order and secure an Xbox One Day One Edition console at Best Buy.
As an additional treat for early adopters and a stab at Sony’s PS4, Microsoft also announced that they have beefed up the CPU from 1.6GHZ to 1.75GHZ, roughly a 10 percent increase in CPU performance. Developers won’t be able to take advantage of this increase for the launch games, though it could be reflected in 2014 releases.
Microsoft’s timing to release Xbox One comes one week after Sony will release PlayStation 4 on November 15. That means both new next generation gaming consoles will be available to purchase and own, assuming they can be found in stores, before the Thanksgiving break and Black Friday. With reportedly at least one million pre-orders each, Xbox One and PS4 will be the must-have electronics items this upcoming holiday season.
Mark your calendars: PlayStation 4 launches in 72 days and Xbox One in 79.
