Sony’s PlayStation 4 game console arrives in China on Jan. 11 (updated with analysis)

Microsoft and Sony’s home console rivalry is going to the largest consumer market in the world.

Today, Sony said its PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita portable gaming system go on sale in China on Jan. 11. The move heralds the opening of the potentially huge Chinese console market after the government finally lifted a 15-year-old ban on game machines. It also means that Sony will miss the critical holiday sales period and debut four months after Microsoft’s Xbox One started selling in China.