Microsoft has been delivering a steady stream of information about the upcoming Xbox One as the console continues the steady march towards the November release date the device is scheduled for. Microsoft has announced that those who buy a season pass for DLC on the Xbox 360 can transfer the season pass and DLC to the Xbox One, as well as announcing they are scaling back the number of countries the console will launch in initially.
Microsoft announced to Gamestop that select games such as Battlefield 4 and Call of Duty: Ghosts will have their season pass transfer from current consoles to the next-gen consoles if players make the switch, halting fears that players would lose out on money and content if they upgraded. As Microsoft stated themselves:
"Season Pass Guarantee makes transitioning from Xbox 360 to Xbox One an easier and smoother process, so you don't have to worry about which console you're playing games on or repurchasing your existing add-ons on Xbox One,"
It is unclear what other games will take advantage of this guarantee, but there are several potential games that could benefit from this deal such as Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, Bungie's Destiny, and Watch Dogs.
However, Microsoft did release some bad news for those in Europe, as they have scaled back the number of countries that will receive the Xbox One at launch. Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and Switzerland will no longer be able to get the console at launch, and will have to wait until 2014 to get their hands on the console. Microsoft released a statement about the news:
"While we wish we could launch Xbox One simultaneously in these markets, there are many factors that determine the timing of specific market launches," Microsoft said in a statement. "This includes work to localize the Xbox One dash, incorporate additional voice and languages, and build partnerships to bring apps and meaningful local content to each country."
This news may give Sony and the PlayStation 4 the edge internationally, as they can get a foothold in those countries that have been affected by this news and win over gamers before the Xbox One even gets a chance to launch in the countries. Perhaps Microsoft will be able to recover from this setback, but they will have their work cut out for them. Microsoft will be at Gamescom in Germany next week, so they may address this news at one of the biggest video game conferences in Europe.