Chinese computer maker Lenovo to enter video console market

Aug 27, 2010, 14:45 GMT

Beijing - Lenovo Group Ltd is to launch its own video game console in an attempt to open up that lucrative market for the Chinese computer maker, news reports said Friday.

Lenovo is to present its eBox in November, the China Daily said, quoting company representatives. The console is expected to hit markets early next year.

The Chinese company hopes to win market shares from the main console makers, Microsoft Corp, Sony Corp and Nintendo Co Ltd.

For the console's development Lenovo earlier this month established a daughter company, Beijing eedoo Technology Ltd.

The eBox's platform is expected to be similar to the Kinect platform of Microsoft's Xbox 360, which allows user interaction without a controller.

The eBox is to use a camera to follow players' movements and transfer those to the screen, the report said. According to Lenovo, the console aims at the family entertainment market.

The price range is expected to be above Nintendo's Wii but below the Xbox, which sells for 299 dollars in the United States.

Lenovo hopes to sell 1 million consoles annually in the first years. Sixteen game developers have already signed contracts with Lenovo

In 2009 the global video gaming market was estimated at 60 billion dollars and is expected to increase to 70 billion dollars by 2015.

There is no information about the market potential in China, as importing gaming consoles is banned on grounds of endangering the health of children and teenagers.

However, a large grey market exists and consoles are widely available.