Microsoft’s director of programming Larry Hryb, better known as online personality Major Nelson, has taken to Twitter to debut the first Xbox One retail unit fresh off the assembly line. The picture below represents the finalised standard edition of the console that will ship to retailers in two months time, though consumers who pre-ordered the day one edition will pick up a jet black package.
The very first #XboxOne off the assembly line. @XboxP3 is taking it to TGS next week http://t.co/7p001eklUy
— Larry Hryb (@majornelson) September 13, 2013
With the console now in full production ahead of its November 22nd launch and pre-order numbers currently double that of the Xbox 360 within the same period, the excitement surrounding Microsoft’s next-gen hardware is beginning to reach a crescendo. The company is pushing to make an impression in the Asian market, too, with Microsoft’s Games Studio head Phil Spencer confirming that a total of eight Xbox One games – including Killer Instinct and Titanfall – will be fully playable on the show floor at the Tokyo Game Show later this week. Additionally, the company will also have 21 Xbox 360 games on display come September 19th.
The aforementioned day one edition of Microsoft’s next-gen hardware will come bundled with either FIFA 14 or Forza Motorsport 5 in Europe. What’s more, it’s been confirmed that the console itself will launch in thirteen territories worldwide including the UK, North America and Spain. Given that the company has a presence at this year’s TGS – after its absence at last year’s event – it seems likely that Microsoft will announce a release date for the Xbox One in Japan and other Eastern markets a la Sony – although we don’t expect the console to debut in Asia until late 2014.
Tokyo Game Show is set to commence on Thursday, September 19th and will continue through until September 22nd. With Microsoft at least attempting to crack the Japanese market, do you think the Xbox One will encounter the same problems as its predecessor in the region? Give us your thoughts in the comments below.
