Microsoft announced yesterday that the Xbox One would be launching in November in 13 markets rather than the earlier stated 21, with most countries in Europe such as Sweden, Belgium and Denmark among others and Russia receiving it in early 2014.
Consumers of the respective countries aren’t the only ones annoyed about it. Battlefield 4 developer DICE is based in Sweden, for instance, and lead core gameplay design director Alan Kertz took to Twitter to voice his disapproval.
I see Microsoft seems intent on making it easier and easier to pick #PS4 for Gen4 in Sweden.
— Alan Kertz (@Demize99) August 15, 2013
As for claims of “localizing” the console for local languages, Kertz stated that:
@JoshuaGWilson_ Being an expat in Sweden. EVERYONE SPEAKS ENGLISH HERE. And the locals HATE the Swedish translations.
— Alan Kertz (@Demize99) August 15, 2013
He wasn’t alone, as lead gameplay designer Gustav Halling stated that Sweden always bought what was hot and now, that will be the PlayStation 4.
Not sure what @Xbox is thinking when not launching in a progressive country like Sweden, we always buy what is hot and that will be PS4..
— Gustav Halling (@gustavhalling) August 15, 2013
Halling also stated that though he will be getting a console, he may be one of the few after the delay.
@Death2Rum @Xbox I'm still getting a XboxOne but I'm one of the few after this. Might buy a ps4 also, we will see.
— Gustav Halling (@gustavhalling) August 15, 2013
One has to pity Microsoft at this point: After announcing the Xbox One, the company was skewered for what were viewed as draconian DRM policies and lack of enthusiasm in indie developers. Microsoft has been back-tracking on every single one of its policies since then, including Kinect no longer being mandatory for playing on the console. How badly will this affect the console’s standing in Europe and Russia? We’ll find out in the coming months.
