Over on the official Xbox One YouTube channel, Microsoft has announced that the console will be heading to China on September 23. Chinese media company BesTV will handle all the sales for Microsoft, selling the console with Kinect for ¥3,699 RMB (around $599). USA Today reports that the launch day titles will include Zoo Tycoon, Forza Motorsport 5 and Kinect Sports Rivals.
"For the first time ever, Xbox One is coming to China with a full games and entertainment system. Here at Microsoft, we have been on a mission to build the very best gaming and entertainment experience for games everywhere, and in China there are over half a billion gamers, so the opportunity to create global and locally created content to delight millions and millions of gaming families everywhere is something that we're really passionate about," Yusuf Mehdi, Corporate Vice President, Devices and Studios at Microsoft stated in the video.
Up until earlier this year, consoles from foreign nations were banned from China starting in 2000. According to Recode, Chinese officials feared that "international entertainment" would be bad for children, causing developmental or physical harm. However, the country stopped banning the sale of foreign consoles early this year. The catch? They must be made available in Shanghai's free trade zone so that they're sold across the country.
Even if Xbox One will be made available in China, that doesn't mean all Xbox One games will be offered. The Shanghai government released a long list of rules that foreign console creators and developers must adhere to. These include working with a local partner (like BesTV), anything that violates China's constitution, anything that harms the nation's reputation, and so on.
"Xbox One is going to offer an amazing array of experiences for gamers in China," Mehdi added. "Everything from games to entertainment experiences, fitness and education opportunities."
In related console news, Electronic Arts is bringing a subscription plan to Microsoft's Xbox One. The company refers to its biggest games as The Vault and will offer the key to this portfolio of EA goodness for $4.99 a month or $29.99 per year. Right now, this all-you-can-eat service is in beta and will take a limited number of Xbox One owners, but EA is confident that it will open the doors to the masses "soon".
"During the beta, gamers will have unlimited access to four great EA games: FIFA 14, Madden NFL 25, Peggle 2 and Battlefield 4, with more titles being added soon. That's over $100 worth of games for $4.99 a month. You can play these EA favorites as much as you want with the click of a button," the press release stated.
EA also reveals that customers subscribing to this service will let gamers check out trials of new games up to five days before the release date. EA already has a few lined up for trial: Madden NFL 15, NHL 15, FIFA 15, NBA LIVE 15, and Dragon Age: Inquisition. More is on the way, the company reveals.
EA's new service, called EA Access, will officially launch "soon" on Xbox One.
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