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Report: Sony to ship 200K PS4s to China by December
Sony plans on bringing 200,000 PS4 systems to China by December, Bloomberg reports. The number comes from a filing on the Chinese (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone website, which reportedly notes that Sony intends on shipping that many consoles to the region on an annual basis. Sony Computer Entertainment spokesman Masaki Tsukakoshi confirmed the report with Bloomberg and noted that the actual PS4 production amounts may vary. This follows news of Microsoft's relative success in China, as it reportedly sold 100,000 Xbox One consoles in its introductory week. Microsoft is the first to bring an official foreign console to China in 14 years since the government lifted its console ban in January. China issued a new set of rules for foreign video game and console sales in April, one of which requires that companies work with a China-based partner. Sony paired with the Shanghai Oriental Pearl Group in May to bring the PS4 to the country. [Image: Sony]
PlayStation heads for China
Sony is the next console manufacturer to seek untapped fortunes in China, with agreements in place to bring its PlayStation products to the country. The company is setting up joint ventures with the Shanghai Oriental Pearl Group, one to produce hardware and the other software. Sony Computer Entertainment told Reuters the business details are being formulated, so we can expect more details to be announced at a later time. One joint venture will have registered capital of 43.8 million yuan (around $7 million), with the ownership split 70/30 between Sony and Shanghai Oriental Pearl. The other will have registered capital of 10 million yuan ($1.6 million), with Shanghai Oriental Peal owning 51 percent to Sony's 49. Sony follows Microsoft as another platform holder to enter the Chinese market, after the country lifted its 14-year-ban on consoles this year. Like Microsoft, Sony is complying with rules that demand foreign companies work with local businesses to make systems in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone. It's presumed Sony plans to release the PS4 in the country, with Microsoft's Xbox One due to launch in September. Meanwhile, Nintendo said it plans to launch "new hardware" in emerging markets like China starting next year. [Image: Sony]
