14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has released yet another statement about the recent delay it was forced to implement for the Xbox One in several European countries, emphasizing that the decision wasn't made because it didn't have enough units to assure a regular release, and that it actually stemmed from issues localizing the voice control features.
The Xbox One was confirmed back in May and Microsoft quickly revealed that its next-gen console would be launched in November in 22 countries around the world.
Earlier this month, however, the hardware maker mentioned that the device wouldn't actually appear in 2013 in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Microsoft's Head of Product Development, Albert Penello, has clarified the decision with OXM, confirming that the extra localization work for the voice controls is a much more complex issue.
"I think people are using the way [voice] works on Xbox 360, which was an accessory we built five years after release, as how it's going to work here," he said.
"But it's so much more elegant and so much more integrated, and in many ways it's a lot faster and more convenient. Whereas on Xbox 360 it's a lesser version of doing the thing you're used to doing on your controller."
As such, fans shouldn't immediately jump to the conclusion that Microsoft doesn't have enough Xbox One units to support a full-fledged release, according to Penello.
"People assume there's a volume issue which in fact there isn't. You're actually seeing pre-orders pop back up now because we're able allocate the countries' volumes back in. It's there, the problem is localization. And once people see the system and how integral it is, it's not just text integration."
What's more, Penello confirmed that the lack of region locking restrictions means that those in countries where the Xbox One was delayed can get it from other territories, although they won't be able to interact with the console in their native language.
"But at the same time we said, this is a region-free console," he added. "In regions like Switzerland where people speak German and French, they can get a German or French console. It'll work fine. They can log in to their marketplace, use their language, we don't geo-fence Live or any of the content any more. We don't have official language support – but the console still works."
The Xbox One is set to make its debut in November.