Nintendo has delayed the GameCube’s US launch, and Microsoft has delayed the Xbox’s Japanese launch.
While Nintendo created a stir during the E3 games conference by announcing that its console would be launched on November 5 in the US, three days prior to the Xbox, the launch will now be postponed until November 18. The Japanese company has also announced that 700,000 GameCubes will be available on launch day and that it will ship 1.1 million units by the end of the year. Two titles will be available at launch: Luigi’s Mansion and Wave Race: Blue Storm. A total of seventeen games will be released in the US by the year’s end.
This compares with the 600-800,000 Xbox units that Microsoft has announced for launch day, and the 1.5 million it plans to sell by the end of 2001. Although no official software line-up has been announced yet, on the basis of information accidentally released by various US retailers it appears that the Xbox could have 15 to 20 games on launch day.
The Nintendo delay is obviously good news for Microsoft, which regains pole position in the US. However, having the GameCube’s launch follow so closely after the Xbox will certainly hurt Xbox sales. Many consumers are likely to wait until the GameCube is launched to make up their minds about which console to get, especially as Nintendo currently seems to have more attractive software.
Microsoft also announced this week that the Xbox would not launch in Japan until February 2002, compared with its original Q4 2001 release date. Although Microsoft has always known that it will have to face tough competition in Japan, this delay will make its task even harder. Another negative consequence is that this delay will do nothing to abate concerns that the Xbox is experiencing manufacturing problems, which could impact the US and European launches.
The road to market is still long for Microsoft and Nintendo. It’s almost certain that a few more surprises will emerge before November.
