Report suggests China Xbox One launch in 2014

Xbox One could be officially launched in China some time in 2014, according to a senior Microsoft partner in the country.

An article in Sohu IT, one of China’s biggest technology sites, quotes Luo Jiangchun, CEO of online video service Funshion, saying that Xbox One will be available late next year. Funshion is a streaming TV service, owned by BesTV, which recently announced a joint partnership with Microsoft in the Shanghai Free Economic Zone.

Since 2000, China has prohibited the sale of games consoles. But earlier this year, the Chinese Government created the “experimental” Shanghai Free Economic Zone where consoles could go on sale. Unofficially, gray import consoles are available in China.

“On Nov. 22, we launched Xbox One in 13 markets worldwide,” offered a Microsoft spokesperson. “Our focus is on launching in more markets next year. Other than that, we have no further comment.”