Xbox reiterates holiday 2020 Series X release, amid delay reports

Microsoft has reiterated Xbox Series X’s holiday 2020 release window, amid claims the console could be delayed due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

The platform holder’s latest marketing references the date a number of times, seemingly suggesting it’s confident the launch won’t be pushed back by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Last week a report from market research firm DFC Intelligence claimed there was a “strong likelihood” that the PlayStation 5 and/or Xbox Series X launch dates could be delayed to 2021 due to the impact of the coronavirus.

The firm predicted that even if the next-gen consoles launch during the 2020 holiday season as planned, supply is likely to be constrained and prices could be elevated.

The report followed a similar prediction from a leading investment bank, which claimed in February that COVID-19 could see next-gen console launches constrained or even delayed.

China’s manufacturing sector, which produces the vast majority of the world’s consumer electronics, has been hit hard by the coronavirus, with manufacturing giant Foxconn said to have quarantined workers, according to Business Insider by Pulse.

Nearly all video game hardware is produced in China, while it’s estimated that as much as half of art creation in Western games is also outsourced to the country.

According to investment bank Jefferies Group, if the outbreak continues it could affect Microsoft’s and Sony’s plans for the launch of their next-gen consoles later this year.

“The video game sector is currently manufacturing, or beginning to, a once-in-several-years’ product generation change for the 2020 holiday season,” the group said.

“If [company] shutdowns exceed a month or so, game schedules will be delayed. New consoles may likewise suffer supply issues from a prolonged disruption, ahead of their Fall 2020 planned launches.”

Microsoft released full hardware specifications for Xbox Series X on Monday, including confirmation that the next-gen console will feature an eight core CPU with 16 threads, allowing for 12.155 teraflops of compute power.

The platform holder also demonstrated the Quick Resume feature, confirming that it will support a minimum of three Series X games.