Microsoft: Missing 8 of Xbox One's planned markets was the worst part of launch

Australia was one of the 13 countries where the Xbox One launched in 2013.

Microsoft launched the Xbox One in 13 international markets in November, but the company originally planned to have the console available for local sales in 21 territories. However, a few months after making that announcement at E3, the company said that it would delay the local launch of the Xbox One in eight of its planned markets until sometime in 2014.

Microsoft Studios head Phil Spencer said in a new interview with the Official Xbox Magazine that missing out on those markets was the worst aspect of the Xbox One launch. He stated, "It never feels good to stand on stage and talk about 21 markets and ship in 13, but it's a journey, and it's not won or lost the day after launch. It will be something that plays out, so making sure the quality of each market when we ship is the important part."

Microsoft has indicated that the delay for those countries (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, The Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland) was due to the company needing more time to localize the content of the console for those markets. Spencer said, "... there were things around the voice models and other things we needed to make sure were right ... "

So far, Microsoft has not offered a specific date for the launch of the Xbox One in those eight territories. We are also still waiting for the company to offer any launch dates for Asian countries, especially Japan.

Source: OXM.co.uk | Image via Microsoft