Microsoft accidentally ships Xbox One two weeks early

Microsoft has accidentally shipped a number of Xbox One consoles to customers nearly two weeks before its official release date.

After one customer posted pictures of the console on Twitter and put a video on YouTube, Microsoft banned the user from his Xbox One until its launch on November 22.

At least three pre-orders have apparently been delivered early, with one briefly listed on eBay, according to Polygon.com.

In a statement, Microsoft admitted that a handful had been inadvertently shipped early.

“Due to a retail partner’s system issue, a very small number of Xbox One consoles were shipped to consumers before the 11/22 street date”, the company said.

“We’re pleased to see the initial response to Xbox One has been so positive, but given we are still putting the finishing touches on our games, UI and online services, as well as confidential partner and media agreements, these consoles will be restricted from connecting to Xbox Live until closer to our launch date.”

According to one customer who received the console early, Twitter user Moonlightswami, the console takes “about 15-20 seconds” to load, and he was able to download the system’s initial patch.

The Xbox One is the long-awaited follow-up to Microsoft’s Xbox 360, released in 2005.

:story: The Telegraph