Xbox One sets November 22 launch date

The Xbox One's first phase of launches will hit on November 22, halfway between the PlayStation 4's own North American and European debuts.

The Xbox One's first phase of launches will hit on November 22, halfway between the PlayStation 4's own North American and European debuts.

Thirteen countries are included in the $499 Xbox One's street date, with more territories to be added in 2014.

USA and Canada, Brazil and Mexico, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and Ireland, and Australia and New Zealand make up the first wave.

Launch titles include 'Call of Duty: Ghosts,' racing game 'Forza Motorsport 5,' dancing and fitness platform 'Just Dance 2014,' and a selection of sports sims, while Microsoft makes a major play for TV, movie and music streaming, alongside voice and motion sensing technology that makes Xbox use more intuitive.

'We are humbled and gratified by the tremendous interest in Xbox One from game fans everywhere,' said Yusuf Mehdi, the Xbox division's VP of Marketing, Strategy and Business.

'We sold out of our pre-order supply faster than at any other time in our history and we are on path to have the biggest launch of an Xbox ever. We look forward to celebrating with millions and millions of gamers this holiday.'

Happily, the November 22 date coincides with the eighth anniversary of the Xbox 360.

But amid the excitement, cynics might suggest that the pre-order sell-out has just as much to do with manufacturing supply issues as with public interest, especially considering the PlayStation 4's less expensive price tag of $399.

Consequently, the multi-million gamer celebration refers to members of the more wide-ranging Xbox family: the Xbox 360's launch saw 1.5 million units shipped to stores by the end of the year.

The PlayStation 4 launches in the USA and Canada on November 15, and in 30 other countries across Europe, Latin America, and Oceania on November 29.