In the lead up to the Tokyo Game Show, Microsoft has officially announced the release dates for the Xbox 360 console in the US, Japan and Europe.

Overview of the XBox 360 release dates:

• US: Tuesday, November 22
• Europe: Friday, December 2
• Japan: Saturday, December 10

Since this is the first time a video games console has been launched in the same timeframe in three different territories, Microsoft is anticipating massive worldwide demand for the Xbox 360. Manufacturing of the Xbox 360 has already begun, with state-of-the-art facilities producing millions of units in an effort to keep pace with global demand for the next-generation console.

Robbie Bach, chief Xbox officer for Microsoft, had the following to say at the Microsoft press conference held to announce the launch dates.

“This holiday season, gamers in Japan, Europe and North America pining to experience jaw-dropping high-definition graphics, unmatched online play and compelling digital entertainment features of Xbox 360 will finally have the chance. Renowned development studios around the world are busy putting the finishing touches on their Xbox 360 games. We expect a strong portfolio of titles on launch day and through the holidays that will appeal to fans of every genre and gamers in every region, and with more than 200 games currently in development, continuous new additions to the library are on the way.”

With big name game development houses such as Konami Corp and Namco Ltd pledging support for the Xbox 360, gamers can look forward to having a wide variety of games in many genres available to keep them amused this holiday season.