Microsoft has announced that it will launch its Xbox One gaming console in China on September 23, making it the first foreign company to start selling consoles in China since a ban on the devices was lifted a few months ago.

Yusuf Mehdi, head of marketing and strategy for Microsoft's Xbox group, confirmed the news during an event in Shanghai.

The console will cost 3,699 yuan ($600) without the Kinect motion detection system and 4,299 yuan ($700) with Kinect.

In comparison, the Xbox One with Kinect costs $499 and without it is $399, a difference of more than $200 compared to how much the console will cost in China.

China banned sales of foreign-made came consoles under the belief that the devices cause mental harm to children.

The ban was lifted back in January.

Back in September of last year, Microsoft reached a deal with Chinese internet TV set-top box maker BesTV New Media Co Ltd to create a joint venture to make the consoles in Shanghai's Free Trade Zone, according to Reuters.

The Xbox launch had been approved by the government, Zhang Dazhong, a senior vice president at Shanghai Media Group, the parent of BesTV New Media, said at the event.

Microsoft is proceeding with its launch despite the government's announcement on July 29 that the U.S. software giant is the subject of an anti-monopoly investigation.

Microsoft rival, Sony Corp, said in May that it would set up a joint-venture with Shanghai Oriental Pearl Group to bring the PlayStation games console to China.

No further details regarding PS consoles in China have been released.

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