"We hope so," he said, when asked whether those who hadn't preordered would be able to find a console. "There are a few weeks to go between now and launch. Pre-orders have been unprecedented. It will mean Xbox One by far and away the largest launch we've ever done on a global basis and on a UK basis. And we work carefully with our retail partners to make sure we have as much capacity and inventory as possible.
"Inevitably, there will be situations where demand outstrips supply. But we work hard to minimise the impact of that," he continued.
Asked whether the console might sell out during the Christmas period, Harrison kept his cards close to his chest. "It's hard to predict, but the demand is very high. We will do everything we can to get as much inventory into our retail partners, because we want to sell them. There's no desire on our part to lose a sale or hold back inventory."
Big Phil's American counterpart Phil Spencer (boss of Microsoft Studios) has already promised that there won't be store shortages in the US. "There might be a line," he said, "but I don't want it to be that if you didn't pre-order in September, you can't get one."
It's been suggested that the next generation of console hardware will be the last, as the idea of a fixed-spec box beneath your TV goes out of fashion. Harrison doesn't see it that way - he feels that consoles can co-exist with disruptive emerging platforms like mobile and tablet.
"You're seeing a lot of growth in console but you're also seeing a lot of growth in gaming fullstop, whether it's on mobile phones, tablets or consoles and a number of new entrants. So the games market overall is in an incredibly strong position.
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Source: http://www.oxm.co.uk/63041/microsoft-xbox-one-sell-outs-at-launch-are-inevitable-but-were-working-hard-to-avoid-that/
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