Microsoft gets its game on with longawaited Xbox One launch

Microsoft Corp's Xbox One is pictured. [Photo by Liu Xin for China Daily]

However, only 10 games are being provided for the console at this time, and video services are excluded.

Xie Enwei, general manager of Microsoft's greater China region, said that more games will be provided within a few weeks or months. E-Home is developing some 70 games for the Chinese users.

Chinese players are excited about the coming of the console.

Yu Hanfeng, 23, a self-employed worker in Shanghai, said he is saving money to buy an Xbox One. As a big fan of games originating in the United States, he finds the Xbox to be the ideal choice. In addition, Yu said the Kinect sensor provides a better experience.

"But the console has some shortcomings. Its image quality is not very good. Besides, the Xbox lacks the games that are suitable for family members. But still, I can't miss it."

Microsoft's largest competitor in the game consoles industry, Japan's Sony Corp, extended its congratulations via the official Sina Weibo account of PlayStation on Monday morning.

Calling it a memorable day, Sony wished "Chinese players a good experience and prosperity in the Chinese game consoles market". However, it did not announce when it will release its PlayStation consoles.

Sony set up two joint ventures in the FTZ in May for the production and sales of its best-selling PlayStation consoles.

According to market research consultancy Newzoo BV, income from console games accounts for 43 percent of the total $70.4 billion income of the global gaming industry. China's contribution, however, was zero before the ban was lifted.

"The most important thing in the Chinese market is how to make the games and consoles less expensive but available to a larger group of users ... The lifting of the ban will give incentives to more independent game developers whose products are maturing in China," said Shirley Lin, vice-president of the mobile marketing company YeahMobi, which is a subsidiary of the United States based-NDP Media Corp.

Xbox One to enter China next week	Microsoft's Xbox gets hit by Monday blues