EB forces special bundle, Nr1 on Amazon, Stock Unknown

EBgames's web site states that the Xbox 360 will be available on November 15th. While this is not confirmation of an exact release date, it does serve as further proof of a mid-November launch window. The original Xbox launched on 15 November 2001 and Xbox LIVE just one year later... but users on our forums say the gamestop stores expect a November 10th launch. We'll have to wait for a word from Microsoft for the final date, but around mid-November seems highly likely now for the N-American market.

Amazon.fr lists the Xbox360 for a November 28 release for europe. Like the date listed above by EBgames this is not confirmation. The european release is expected in November too, close to the US launch but not the same day. Around 2 weeks after the US release expected mid-November makes sense.

* EBgames started taking pre-orders for the Xbox360 today. No default "Premium" (399) and "Core" (299) will be available though. If you want to pre-order at EBgames you'll have to buy an Xbox 360 bundle pack priced at 600 (core xbox360 + wired controller + mem card + 4 games) or 700 USD (premium Xbox360 + wireless controller + Play & Charge Kit + Rechargeable Battery Pack). The 4 games are 'Perfect Dark Zero: Limited Edition', 'Dead or Alive 4', 'Kameo: Elements of Power' and 'Project Gotham Racing 3'. Each bundle is limited to one order per customer. The forced bundle is only applicable to online orders and not in-store purchases according to IGN.

* On Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.fr the 'Premium' Xbox 360 already reached #1 on Amazon's sales rank, ahead of the Sony PSP, to be released September 1st in Europe. The Core version lacks on the 197th place.

* We got several confirmations today that RadioShack will indeed sell the Xbox360 hardware and games.

* Retailers cautious while stock allocation still unknown.
Several retailers, like GAME in the UK, put up "warnings" on their pre-order page as Microsoft did not announce final stock allocation each country or store will get yet. Read more about it on gamesindustry.biz and planetxbox360.com.