The US launch takes place on November 8 ensuring that the Xbox will be in the stores well before Christmas. The recommended retail price for games in Europe will be £44.99 and the console will be the most expensive in Europe at launch.
A total of 1.5m consoles are to be shipped to Europe for the first three months of sales with extra shipments from European factories.
Microsoft said that it was unable to release details of its marketing strategy because it was still in its early planning stages. However, in April, the company announced that it had appointed Bartle Bogle Hegarty in London as its pan-European advertising agency.
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