Xbox One release date set for November 8, claims leak

The next-generation Xbox One console from Microsoft will launch on November 8.

That’s NOT according to Microsoft, who spectacularly failed to give even a whiff of the console’s launch date at last week’s GamesCom, but instead according to a fresh leak from a source at a marketing company that handles Walmart’s signage and product placement.

Though it’s a few steps further down the chain from Microsoft than we’d like, there’s reason to believe the Kotaku source to be accurate. For starters, major retailers like Walmart will be gearing up for massive midnight openings to start shifting the long-awaited new games machine (details in fact noted by the source), while the date gives Microsoft the jump over rivals Sony and their PlayStation 4 console, itself set to launch later that month on 15 November.

As for UK launch dates, they may differ. Sony’s PS4 touches down in the UK on November 29, two weeks after the US release. We wouldn’t be surprised to see Microsoft follow suit, making the UK launch date for the Xbox One November 22.

Seeing as this isn’t official confirmation of the launch date, pop these into your calendar with a pencil for now. You can always go over them in ink a little later.

We’ll be off to try the Xbox One at a UK press event tomorrow, and will pass on any fresh whispers of the launch date if we hear them, as well as our hands-on impressions.