X-box delayed again

Microsoft has put back its US launch of X-box a week, and analysts believe the company will have only 300,000 consoles ready for its first day of sales instead of the 800,000 it orginally planned.

Microsoft confirmed that it was "re-focusing away from day-one numbers", and that it wouldn't know how many X-boxes it would ship until its Mexico plant reached peak production.

Some analysts believe the decision reflects concerns over consumer confidence in the US following this month's terror attacks, although the reduced number of consoles may simply be due to production problems.

Although the lines are now reportedly rolling down in Mexico, Microsoft will only be able to supply the US market with 100,000 consoles a week post-launch, according to US media reports.

Analysts say they expect around 750,000 X-boxes to make it into shops before Christmas, with over a million available by January.

Microsoft had wanted to ship 1.5 million units in the US by January.

Consoles for X-box's scheduled spring 2002 European launch are being manufactured in Hungary. Microsoft may release an exact European launch date on 2 October.

See also:

No X-box shortages, says Microsoft

1.5 million to go on sale next March  17 Oct 2001

Sony slashes £70 off PlayStation 2

Economies of scale make a price cut possible, says Sony.  26 Sep 2001

Gamecube will not square off against X-box

Nintendo caps games console availability for US launch  25 Sep 2001

Gamers in the dark over US X-box launch

Will there be enough consoles to meet demand?  21 Sep 2001

US online X-box sales soar

Microsoft console is a sell-out for Toys'R'Us  06 Sep 2001

European X-box 'will be on time'

Microsoft 'committed' to Q1 launch, but it's all on a promise.  30 Aug 2001

No X-box for Japan until 2002; Europe hit?

Microsoft denies technical problems as delays to launch reported  28 Aug 2001

Preview: Microsoft's X-box unleashed

Microsoft has made some daring claims for its upcoming foray into the games console arena. But can the X-box reality live up to the hype?  27 Jun 2001

Like this story? Spread the news by clicking below:

 del.icio.us     Digg this     reddit!