Online Retailers Cagey on 360 Stock
It's starting to look a little grim if you're determined to have an Xbox 360 by the end of the year.
Microsoft is learning the hard way that launching a console nearly simultaneously around the world is no easy task. While there's already been a lot said about the state of the console's launch games, there's a more pressing fear: will there be enough consoles to go around?
Microsoft has tried to downplay this issue. At last week's X05 conference in Amsterdam, J Allard called the rumours of serious supply issues "BS". And Neil Thompson, the UK Xbox boss, played semantics, preferring to talk of a launch period of 6-12 weeks rather than a launch day.
But that doesn't change that there will be a shortage come Christmas. Already all the major UK online retailers have posted notices on their Xbox 360 pre-ordering pages warning that they are either not taking anymore pre-orders or can't guarantee delivery before the end of the year.
Outside of Microsoft and its retail partners, no one knows how many Xbox 360s will be in the UK or Europe by Christmas.
An unnamed source told MCV that there were 600,000 Xbox 360s slated for Europe - 200,000 of those coming to the UK.
These numbers would seem to be woefully low - consider the PSP, which, with its £179 retail price, sold 185,000 units in the UK on its first day.
Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games
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