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Microsoft said to launch Xbox Series X game console in China next year after getting certified

  • The US tech giant was recently granted separate safety certifications by mainland regulators for two unnamed game consoles
  • Getting one more certification, from the Ministry of Culture, is expected to pave the way for the domestic release of the Xbox Series X and Series S

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Microsoft Corp’s new flagship game console, the Xbox Series X, is projected to launch in China in the first half of next year. Photo: Reuters
Josh Ye
Microsoft Corp’s next-generation Xbox Series X is expected to be released in China next year, according to analysts, after a recent decision by mainland regulators to grant the company a certification for an unnamed video game console.

The US tech giant received a China Compulsory Certificate, also known as the 3C mark, from the Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People’s Republic of China. The 3C mark is the official safety authorisation for products imported, sold or used on the mainland. That followed a separate 3C mark granted to the company for an unnamed console in June this year.

Analysts indicated that these certifications point to the imminent launch of the Xbox Series X, along with its lower-grade variant the Xbox Series S, in the world’s largest video games market. Sales of the two new game consoles started on November 10 in many markets around the world. The mainland was not among the launch countries.

“We currently expect the Xbox Series X to launch in the first half of 2021,” said Daniel Ahmad, senior analyst at game consultancy Niko Partners. Microsoft still needs to secure a separate certification from the Ministry of Culture before its flagship console is released in China, he added.

An Xbox representative on Wednesday said the company has no further information to share with the public.

The stakes are high for Microsoft’s latest consoles to attract avid gamers in China, following high demand recorded by Sony Interactive Entertainment’s new PlayStation 5 (PS5) in the world’s second largest economy. Scalpers in China have been taking pre-orders for the standard PS5 console at a cost of more than US$1,500 per unit, which is three times the suggested retail price.
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