Microsoft has set an official release date for the Xbox 360 of November 22nd, just in time for the holidays. UK gamers will get it after that and Japanese customers last. It is interesting that Microsoft will not offer the no frills Xbox 360 core system in Japan, instead giving them a $50.00 price break on the deluxe edition.

The company announced Thursday that the Xbox 360 would hit retail shelves Nov. 22 -- two days before the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday -- in North America. European gamers will be able to buy the machine Dec. 2, while Japanese consumers will be able to buy one Dec. 10. This will be the first time a video game console maker has released a system worldwide at essentially the same time.

Microsoft (Research) did not announce which games will be available at the system's launch, nor mention how many titles would be available. The company has previously indicated it would have between 15 and 25 games available when the system launched. Analysts now believe that number has shrunk to between 12 and 15.