Microsoft Xbox Debuts March 14 in Europe

Microsoft Corp. will start selling its Xbox video game console in Europe on March 14.

The company said it will ship 1.5 million consoles to Europe by mid-June.

When Xbox debuts in North America on Nov. 15 for $300 and in Japan on Feb. 22, it will meet with fierce competition from Sony Corp.’s fast-selling PlayStation 2 console and Nintendo Co.’s GameCube in a battle over the $20-billion global video game market.