We’ve been waiting patiently for some sort of information on the release date of Microsoft’s newest console here in South Africa. We pester Microsoft pretty much daily for the information – and it’s finally here. Sort of. What we have is a release month – which as the headline would clue you in to, will be in September.
That’s a little bit earlier than we’ve been expecting, with October the last date we heard mulling about in the rumour mill.
The information comes courtesy of Microsoft’s Yusuf Mehdi and the Xbox wire.
On the heels of the most successful Xbox launch in history, we continue to be blown away by the support and engagement of our fans.
You’re spending an average of over five hours per day on Xbox One. And following the launch of “Titanfall”* – as well as the highly anticipated Twitch broadcasting feature – we’ve seen you light up Xbox Live even further. In fact, last week we saw the highest number of hours logged on Xbox Live since the launch of Xbox One.
Now it’s time to ensure even more fans around the world can enjoy Xbox One. So today we’re proud to share that it will be available in 26 additional markets in September this year.
Yes, we’re one of those additional markets. Here’s the full list of countries getting the Xbox One in September.
• Argentina
• Belgium
• Chile
• Colombia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Finland
• Greece
• Hungary
• India
• Israel
• Japan
• Korea
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• South Africa
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Turkey
• UAE
There’s no word on the exact date of release, or indeed the price of the console when it finally does hit our shores 10 months after its debut in much of the rest of the world. That information will be coming next month, apparently.
So again, we wait. The longer we wait for the console, the more the tide moves in Sony, and the PlayStation 4’s favour here in South Africa. For South African Xbox die-hards, at least they know how long – roughly - they’ll still be waiting.
Additionally, we’ve received a press release from Microsoft south Africa’s hardware distributor, Comztek.
“The Xbox One replaces not only the old console, but the old media centre as well, providing a single point of entertainment and communications for the family,” states Heinz Stephan, business practice director at Comztek Consumer Solutions. “With its launch, we could clearly see that the Xbox One is staking its claim on not just a portion of the living room, but all of it.”
“In my mind the Xbox One is not just designed as a gaming console, but rather as the single most advanced hybrid gaming and entertainment console. Microsoft has achieved this by creating a dual and parallel running, state-of-the-art Gaming and Windows Operating Systems. What’s more is that the wait for South Africans is almost over,” said Stephan.
So, Xbox fans. Does this news make you feel any better about the system’s chances in the country? are you stashing away your beans, knowing when you’ll have to have saved up enough?
Last Updated: March 18, 2014
Admiral Chief of comments
March 18, 2014 at 15:02
Eish, that header is soooo soooooooo bad
Nick de Bruyne
March 18, 2014 at 15:04
LOL wow, brings back some memories
Admiral Chief of comments
March 18, 2014 at 15:11
Hahaha someone else knows!
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 18, 2014 at 15:11
Yes. The worst part is he was probably giggling like a school girl the whole time while making it.
Admiral Chief of comments
March 18, 2014 at 15:12
I can see it!
RinceIsIngwer
March 18, 2014 at 15:15
Oh yes, you know it.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 18, 2014 at 15:04
It’s good they’ve finally given people a more-or-less date.
Hammersteyn
March 18, 2014 at 15:20
MS is extremley concerned about their customers.
FoxOneZA
March 18, 2014 at 15:07
Depends on pricing but I can tell you that most of my gaming buddies have moved onto PC besides the one guy that bought a PS4. There’s always that ONE guy.
Aussious
March 18, 2014 at 15:13
Lol Fox you are truly the Last of Us.
FoxOneZA
March 18, 2014 at 15:15
PC, XBOX, PS3, Wii U? I am the first of a new breed!
Aussious
March 18, 2014 at 18:03
Always had you down as a Xbox first type of dude.
Hammersteyn
March 18, 2014 at 15:20
Price is going to be very important.
Corrie Botha
March 18, 2014 at 16:29
Heh I was the one dude with the PC , everybody was with a ps3 and to make matters worse I bought an xbox.
Rikus
March 18, 2014 at 15:07
Time to start saving!
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
March 18, 2014 at 15:51
… for a new PC 😛
Rikus
March 18, 2014 at 15:52
Well played sir…. well played
Sageville
March 19, 2014 at 10:05
That’s good troll right there
VampyreSquirrel
March 18, 2014 at 16:44
Time to start starving!
Fixed 🙂
Rikus
March 18, 2014 at 16:45
Actually, I think it is more continual starving
VampyreSquirrel
March 18, 2014 at 16:50
Saving for Xbone + petrol price + food price + tax + vat + tax + tax + tax + interest rate = starving moar
Rikus
March 18, 2014 at 16:52
Sad, but true
Norm
March 19, 2014 at 09:32
Time to sell a kidney.
Aussious
March 18, 2014 at 15:12
I doubt there are any Xbox die hards left…no one takes that many shorts in the face and comes back for more.
geelslang
March 18, 2014 at 16:18
If you asked me 2 years ago if I would buy the new xbox, I would have said on release day. Then the details emerged, the forced kinect, the delays and finally the inferior hardware became apparent. Now I wont even buy one if I got 50% off.
The Xbox One is a failure on a scale I would have never imagined.
Aussious
March 18, 2014 at 18:22
Its sad because failure rates aside the 360 had an awesome first 3 years there was something really special about the platform it had endless potential… In a Perfect world without Kinect we could have seen Rare bring its AAA games in the form of a Perfect Dark sequel, Kameo,Killer Instinct for starters MS exclusives like Lost Odyssey,Blue Dragon,Too Human, PGR a descent Fable 3 and Crackdown sequel and if MS cared about the 360’s prolonged future at that juncture they would have bought out Bioware before EA and bought the Gear of Wars franchise…Oh I almost forgot they should have never let Bungie go!
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
March 18, 2014 at 16:54
“…no one takes that many shot[s] in the face and comes back for more.”
Me thinks Jenna Jameson would disagree. Oh, how we love you, Capitalism.
Umar Praise The Golden Sun
March 18, 2014 at 15:12
You’ve probably been saving that header Idea for a very long time hey…
Jaded_Reprobate
March 18, 2014 at 15:12
LMAO… we are 1 … nice!!!
FoxOneZA
March 18, 2014 at 15:13
Does it come with TITANZ and CLOUDZ?
RinceIsIngwer
March 18, 2014 at 15:15
“Average of 5 hours a day”, I suppose that leaves a good 10 minutes for gaming.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 18, 2014 at 15:35
I noticed he didn’t specify 5 hours a day GAMING, just that it’s on.
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
March 18, 2014 at 15:37
Let me put it to you, a cat meowing can sound like someone saying “Xbox on”
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 18, 2014 at 15:43
No, I won’t allow you to put it to me.
I wonder what would happen if one of the witnesses said that?
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
March 18, 2014 at 15:46
“Oh, Barry. Put it to me.”
“I put it to you!”
“Put it to me, Barry!”
“I PUT IT TO YOOOUUU!!”
Disqus messed up my reply O_o
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 18, 2014 at 15:49
bwhahahahaha
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 18, 2014 at 15:49
How Roux’d.
Phil van Staden
March 18, 2014 at 15:38
Yea, also picked that up. If I’m not mistaken, most people stream their cable through the xbone so that will probably make up about 4h59m per day
RinceIsIngwer
March 18, 2014 at 15:40
LOL
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 18, 2014 at 15:42
But what about all the time wasted repeating voice commands? 😉
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
March 18, 2014 at 15:16
I think if the Azure stories are true, and the x1 launches with full local servers for online multiplayer for majority of x1 games, it could change things a bit.
TiMsTeR
March 18, 2014 at 15:32
How would it change things with our level of broadband in this country? To make proper use of the cloud you need I am guessing some pretty decent speeds, doubt the majority with 2mb lines gonna cut it, or am I wrong?
FoxOneZA
March 18, 2014 at 15:40
1.5mbps is the minimum.
TiMsTeR
March 18, 2014 at 15:43
I said “make proper use” not minimum
FoxOneZA
March 18, 2014 at 15:45
Then 2mbps would be sufficient. It’s all about pings 🙂
iAmWeasel
March 18, 2014 at 15:51
There’s a big difference between throughput (what you consider speed) and latency. We don’t have really serious problems with throughput here.. the biggest issue is latency and the fact that Azure and other gaming servers are located so far away from SA.
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
March 18, 2014 at 15:53
As far as I understand, latency is the time that the data packet takes to do a round trip. So theoretically if we have servers locally, it should not take that long.
HvR
March 18, 2014 at 15:55
<80ms anywhere in the country
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
March 18, 2014 at 15:58
If you tilt your head to the right, then <80 kinda looks like an ice cream cone with three scoops O_o
http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/bruno1998/bruno19981007/bruno1998100700048/7465341-cartoon-illustration-of-an-ice-cream-cone-with-three-scoops-of-ice-cream.jpg
HvR
March 18, 2014 at 16:02
You my friend truly have a unique mind.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
March 18, 2014 at 16:15
ICE CREAM MAN!
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
March 18, 2014 at 16:15
You’re wrong, multiplayer has far more to do with latency, than line speed. It’s the latency that’s holding us back. Local servers would help fix that.
Brenz
March 19, 2014 at 08:05
How much difference does an unshaped line make to latency if the servers are still in Europe?
Nigel
March 19, 2014 at 09:40
Uhm im playing on a 4 mb, and im getting 176 ping on xbox one. Not bad
iAmWeasel
March 18, 2014 at 15:42
Question, who are the official suppliers of Xbox products in SA?
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
March 18, 2014 at 15:50
Microsoft. Actual distribution may or may not still be done by comztek.
iAmWeasel
March 18, 2014 at 16:41
I heard that our local Xbox representation was supposedly going to keep us informed on local release developments… seems like those guys are totally disconnected from their own company.
Martin du preez
March 18, 2014 at 15:31
D.O.A
http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_medium/428/4283637/2446985-373.gif
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
March 18, 2014 at 15:31
I see that FNB have a PS4 500GB bundle including 2 controllers for R380 a month O_o
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
March 18, 2014 at 15:32
No! Don’t do dis! *must resist*
TiMsTeR
March 18, 2014 at 15:32
for real?????
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
March 18, 2014 at 15:35
Refresh for proof…
TiMsTeR
March 18, 2014 at 15:37
I am guessing the catch is have to be with FNB then.. Surely can’t get the deal if with another bank.
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
March 18, 2014 at 15:38
Nope, need an FNB cheque account as far as I am aware O_o
TiMsTeR
March 18, 2014 at 15:39
crap, that kinda sucks. but very good deal.
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
March 18, 2014 at 15:44
“Oh, Barry. Put it to me.”
“I put it to you!”
“Put it to me, Barry!”
“I PUT IT TO YOOOUUU!!”
This reply was meant for a different comment O_o
TiMsTeR
March 18, 2014 at 15:47
I say things 10 times just to confuse you!
Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)
March 18, 2014 at 15:48
I actually clicker on the “Reply to” button in the email I got and only realized it took me to the wrong comment after I clicked on post O_o
HvR
March 18, 2014 at 15:52
Well I found them better than any other bank.
Chris Heiberg
March 18, 2014 at 15:46
Was amped. Then I ordered a PS4.
Federali
March 18, 2014 at 16:33
I already have one!
Rikus
March 18, 2014 at 16:52
Couldn’t help but think of this:
http://youtu.be/_A6YZc78NnE
Federali
March 18, 2014 at 17:55
Funny guy! Really though, if you really wanted one, you could always buy it somewhere else at the same price as what it could cost here in SA.
Rikus
March 18, 2014 at 17:59
I know, but to be honest, after all the BS Microsoft has pulled before (and even after) the Xbone launch, I am not really THAT interested in buying it. I would much rather wait for official launch and maybe even a price drop. At this stage, I am not sure if the Xbone is worth the price (IMO)
Federali
March 18, 2014 at 18:04
Do you really think there will be a price drop? In this country?
Rikus
March 18, 2014 at 18:06
Not at launch, per se, but a slimline will be launched eventually and with that, a price drop.
Federali
March 18, 2014 at 18:14
Totally agree with you there but how long did we have to wait for that in the 360?
There’ll be a price drop… But that’s at least two years of waiting. First, retailers need to milk gamers dry.
I bought Forza 5 brand new from Amazon UK for 540zar, including shipping. How do you think it cost here in as at launch?
Rikus
March 18, 2014 at 18:37
Yeah, that is true (Unless you live in the UK, then you get a price drop whenever a major game launches). But like I’ve said, the Xbone currently doesn’t really appeal to me, so I can wait for the price drop. I just want one eventually.
Wow, that is not a bad deal on Forza 5. Looking at the current RRP for new gen games, you would’ve paid R700 – at least.
Nicholas Jose Barreto
March 18, 2014 at 16:35
I’m glad that Microsoft has finally given us better info than sometime this year. Still it might be an uphill struggle seeing that PS4 has gotten a head start and Titanfall has been cancelled for South Africa. I predict that PS4 has won the console war, at least in South Africa for now…
Jonah Cash
March 18, 2014 at 16:49
Hahahaha!! Will let you know how much fun my PS4 is with the big release of Infamous Thursday!! And I will start trading in my old PS4 games…. So now it is starting to get on a roll!! By the time the Xbox One lands here I will have logged days not hours on my PS4…. And I were a huge Xbox 360 fan, I like it better than even my PS2!!
Terrence W Pringle
March 18, 2014 at 19:47
Too late, I bought a PS4…
Mark Treloar
March 19, 2014 at 06:53
Microsoft has achieved this by creating a dual and parallel running, state-of-the-art Gaming and Windows Operating Systems – so basically they put a PC in a smaller box, and now its state of the art.
Sageville
March 19, 2014 at 10:02
I wonder what game would they bundle with the XBone seeing as there isnt a Titanbox option here…
Gareth L (That Guy)
March 19, 2014 at 17:05
Seven months is a long long time in this industry. A lot could’ve changed by then. We could possibly have a whole new scenario for the Xbox One with a cheaper console, better internet aspects and options – and maybe even Titanfall.
Right now there’s no way I’ll put money toward the console. It is a disappointment to me on so many levels, and add to the fire that so many Microsoft execs are jumping ship my confidence in the whole future of the Xbox in general is dwindling.
DrifterZA
April 2, 2014 at 17:28
This Is Lies Because I Went To The UAE And They Are Already Selling Xbox Ones And I Have One in fact.