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The Date is Set for Next Gaming Console from Microsoft

Xbox 360 to Arrive on Thanksgiving

by Yaroslav Lyssenko

[ 09/15/2005 | 09:46 AM ]

On Wednesday, Microsoft revealed the launch dates for its much-anticipated Xbox 360 video game console.

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“In an announcement at the Tokyo Game Show, the company said the new Xbox – Microsoft’s entrant in the next-generation console wars - would hit store shelves in North America on Nov. 22, in Europe on Dec. 2 and in Japan on Dec. 10. The company clearly wanted to take advantage of the holiday shopping rush just before and after Thanksgiving in the United States,” reports CNET News.com.

The move made by Microsoft about their next-generation gaming consol launch was quite predictable.

“That’s what you want to do to launch a console. You definitely want to have it on shelves to enjoy the Thanksgiving shopping period,” said Mike Sabine, International Development Group market analyst.

The other reason to put the product into the market as soon as possible, is the competition, of course. New Xbox 360 sales may suffer quite tangibly when Sony and Nintendo launch their own next-generation gaming console.

“For months, Microsoft has said it would have the Xbox 360 out in time for the holidays, and Wednesday’s announcement confirms the company will get several months of first-mover advantage over Sony’s forthcoming PlayStation 3 and Nintendo’s Revolution, both of which are expected to be released next spring,” writes CNET News.com.