Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Series S consoles will not be exclusive to Amazon India. This is in stark contrast to Microsoft’s Xbox One launch strategy for India which saw it exclusively partner with the e-commerce giant for the first year of its availability in India.
According to multiple sources in the supply chain speaking to The Mako Reactor on condition of anonymity fearing retribution, Microsoft is seeking wider distribution and reach for the Xbox Series X and Series S this time around, realising that it was a major misstep during the early days of the Xbox One’s launch preventing any potential momentum. It has already initiated discussions with retailers across the country.
With pre-orders opening the world over including India from September 22, it will be interesting to see how many eventually partner with Microsoft to launch the Xbox Series X and Series S in the country.
If Microsoft is able to execute on obtaining a wider reach for the Xbox Series X and Series S, it would be a major coup from a distribution standpoint. At the moment only Amazon India, Flipkart, Games The Shop, ShopAtSC.com, Croma, and Reliance Digital have the PS5 listed, possibly suggesting that Sony’s launch plans may be limited.
We reached out to Microsoft India for comment and will update this story if we hear from the company.
Xbox Series X and S India price and release date
The Xbox India Facebook page revealed the Xbox Series X and Series S India price and release date last week. The Xbox Series X and Series S prices are Rs. 49,990 and Rs. 34,990 respectively which is inline with what we had speculated. As for a release date both will be available on November 10 in India. We had doubted the veracity of these claims considering the Xbox India website has not been updated and the link in the Facebook post redirects us to the US Xbox news site with no India pricing. However this format of listing appears to be par for the course for Microsoft as its Xbox UK Facebook page linked back to the US Xbox news site that featured the US Xbox Series X and Series S price. The Mako Reactor reached out to Microsoft and a spokesperson for the company confirmed that the post with its details are legitimate.
Xbox Series X and S India pre-order date
Microsoft has stated Xbox Series X and S pre-orders will go live from September 22 in all markets including India.
Xbox Series X and Series S India launch and BIS concerns
That said, it’ll be great if India does eventually get the Xbox Series X and Series S in time with the rest of the world. The Xbox One released in India nearly a year after its global launch as did the Xbox One S while the Xbox One X made it here almost three months after its international release as did the Xbox One S All Digital edition.
In a market where Microsoft plays second fiddle to Sony (arguably third fiddle if you factor in the Nintendo Switch), a day and date India Xbox Series X release would be a fantastic statement of intent. Reason being, Sony’s never done a day and date launch for India either. In fact, the PS4 India release date was delayed due to BIS issues faced by Sony. Before electronics can be sold in India, they need to go through mandatory certification via the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). This includes a number of gadgets such as consoles.
The Department of Electronics, and Information Technology (DeitY), introduced compulsory BIS certification requirement in 2012, which went into effect in 2013. The process is often thought to be time consuming.
Sources in the supply chain speaking to The Mako Reactor claim that Microsoft’s India distribution partner, Redington has been efficient in this regard and it could be crucial in getting to the Indian market on time with an international Xbox Series X release date.
