Xbox One X preorders suffer delays across UK on launch day

Xbox
Xbox (Image credit: Windows Central)

Microsoft's latest video games console, the Xbox One X, has released worldwide, delivering 4K HDR gaming to the masses in a $499 package. While passionate fans are already hands-on after midnight launches across the globe, a majority of preorders are now being shipped to homes throughout release day. However, for those who purchased from Amazon UK, console shipments are looking a little later than desired.

Amazon customers have voiced complaints after dispatch delays across the UK (via Eurogamer), with some set to receive Xbox One X consoles later this week. Despite having reserved consoles when preorders first went live in August, many are only now being notified of setbacks on launch day.

Delays appear to center around preorders for the "Project Scorpio" variant of the console – a limited edition design made available for those who preordered early. In an email sent to some Amazon UK customers on the morning of November 7, the company has cited potential stock issues as a cause for the hold-up.

While we do our best to stick to these estimates, unexpected fluctuations in supply or demand, manufacturing issues, or release date changes for new products can occasionally add time to our original availability estimates.

Although delays are seemingly widespread, customer experiences appear to vary widely across the region. The majority of delays appear to affect Project Scorpio Edition preorders, however, many have reached out to Windows Central after delays of standard variants too. On the other hand, like many customers, our writers have successfully received both Project Scorpio Edition and standard consoles from Amazon UK on launch day. It also appears that only a select share of users have received emails that formally notify of the delay.

This follows a "suspicious" incident at an Amazon UK warehouse in Staffordshire on November 4, which left two stories of the four-story building in flames. As detailed by Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, a "large amount of the goods" inside the property were damaged by fire, heat, and smoke – making for a potential cause of Amazon delays across the country.

Have you received an Xbox One X from Amazon UK today? Or have you been one of the many affected by delays across the country? Make sure to leave a comment below with your experiences.

Matt Brown

Matt Brown was formerly a Windows Central's Senior Editor, Xbox & PC, at Future. Following over seven years of professional consumer technology and gaming coverage, he’s focused on the world of Microsoft's gaming efforts. You can follow him on Twitter @mattjbrown.