Microsoft has been forced to delay the launch date in Australia and New Zealand for its new games the Xbox 360 console by three weeks after global supply  and technicals problems. The new launch date is 23 March 2006, putting Australian consumers more than three months behind their US, European and Japanese counterparts.

The Xbox 360 has been available in North America since November 2005 but there have been reports about technical glitches caused by overheating of units

According to Microsoft, "the new launch dates have been set due to unprecedented global consumer demand stemming from challenges in ramping supply for a complex product like the Xbox 360. This is a short term manufacturing challenge and steps have been taken to increase supply to provide adequate supplies at launch."

Microsoft claims the Xbox 360 is well on its way to becoming the fastest-selling video game console in history, and remains on track to meet the year end forecast to ship between 4.5 million and 5.5 million consoles worldwide by the end of June 2006.

Meanwhile rival Sony is unable to take advantage of Microsoft's supply problems, with pundits now predicting that the new PlayStation 3 will not hit retailers' shelves in the US until November 2006 and, most likely, Australia will have to wait until some time in 2007.