14 DAY TRIAL // The team at Microsoft in charge of the Xbox One home console announces that it will launch the device on the Indian market on September 23 of this year and that gamers who want access to it need to order a device from Amazon, which will have an exclusivity deal for the platform.
The information comes from a Twitter message posted by Anshu Mor, who at the moment leads the Xbox Division in the country and will be in charge of the launch process.
All those who want to get an Xbox One on launch day can now place a pre-order, and there are suggestions that quantities available will be limited, although the company is not saying exactly how many devices it will have on sale.
It’s unclear how long the console will only be offered through Amazon, but Microsoft is probably happy with the deal because it can unload all logistical responsibilities, which can be huge in a big country like India, on its partner.
Presumably, at some point, the Xbox One will also be sold in other stores in order to give the public more access to it, and the price might also be tweaked in order to appeal to more potential customers.
Microsoft has not yet announced any sort of special offers for video games exclusive to the platform, and there seem to be no plans to deliver special content that has been tailor-made for the Indian market.
In September, the company will deliver its new device on a variety of secondary markets, and it hopes that the launch will allow the Xbox One to close the sales gap that has been opened up by the rival PlayStation 4 from Sony.
The rather limited plans for the Indian release stand in stark contrast to the plans Microsoft has for China, where it will offer the console as part of a broadband subscription for those who have a contract with China Telecom.
The company has also promised that it will deliver specific television content and that it has game studios in the country working on exclusive titles.
Microsoft has also confirmed that the Chinese version of the Xbox One will be entirely region locked, which might mean that a majority of gamers in the Communist country will prefer to get the device from the gray market.
It’s unclear whether the home console will also be locked in India.
Excited to announce that Xbox One would be EXCLUSIVELY sold on @amazonIN in India. Pre order starts today ! http://t.co/xGMvaMgFHo
— Anshu Mor (@anshuMor) August 6, 2014