GAMING NEWS

Microsoft Comments on Xbox 720

Posted on Wednesday, August 24 @ 05:21:20 Eastern by Sebastian_Moss

The first console of this generation, the Xbox 360 is getting on a bit in years, with many expecting a new console to be announced soon. Microsoft has now commented on rumors of the 360's successor, dubbed the 720.

Talking to Eurogamer, Chris Lewis, vice president of Interactive Entertainment Business for Microsoft Europe, said

I would only say it’s too long if things are stagnating. If developers are finding they’re bumping their heads against the glass ceiling of development scope, if we weren’t bringing revolutionary technology like Kinect, if we weren’t able to, frankly, completely update the UI of Xbox Live without predicating that on people buying new hardware, were those things not true I might be more in agreement with your assessment.

I actually don’t think it’s too long if the experience continues to grow, if people continue to flock to it and they feel like they’re getting great value. That is everything we’re experiencing right now. That’s how I’d answer that.

Continuing:

I’m being charged with more growth this year versus next year. Sure, I chew the back of my hand a little bit when I think about what that means. We had a very good year last year. But, I do also believe there is sufficient in what’s coming and exists right now for that to be a very realistic ambition. We’re not talking about any additional or new generations of hardware at the moment. We’re fixated on what we’ve got going on right now.

Later, when asked whether he thought the Xbox 720 was being researched and developed, he said:

Sure. As you can imagine, of course we’re working on all sorts of different things. We do that all the time. Frankly, in all aspects of Microsoft, not just what we do with Xbox, our R&D investment is second to none. But to your point about life cycle timing, we’re in pretty good shape.

As long as hordes of casual gamers continue to buy Kinect, it is clear that Microsoft will continue to support the 360, but with the Wii U out next year, how long can they wait?

Tags: Microsoft

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Comments

usaglory
Joined: Mar 2009

Posted: Aug 24th, 2011 at 6:57 am
Both the 360 and PS3 should stick around for at least a couple more years. Wii U might get stuck in-between generations like the Dreamcast did.

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213EDD
Joined: Sep 2007

Posted: Aug 24th, 2011 at 11:01 am
Hope they die off too then

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DruVirus
Joined: Aug 2011

Posted: Aug 24th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
Something like the WiiU bombing won't kill off Nintendo. They are currently leading in both hardware and software sales and it'll take a lot to knock them out completely. If I remember right, GameCube's failure only made them stronger with the Wii. And regardless of people's opinion on the Wii, it was a financial success and then some, as was the DS. Nintendo may have fallen the past year in sales but the past 5 or so years makes up for it and then some.

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MrrClean
Joined: Aug 2010

Posted: Aug 24th, 2011 at 11:52 am
How is that a reason for PS3 and 360 to stick around? It would make much better buisness sense to launch a new better product ahead of one's competitor in just about ever conveivable way. If they can snuff out the other guy, they get a bigger percentage of the market, hence, more money (which I think is what buisness is all about). Unless, of course, Microsoft and Sony are suddenly going to take pity on Nintendo and all their stupid f*cking decisions over the last few years...

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Rinnon
Joined: Nov 2005

Posted: Aug 24th, 2011 at 12:06 pm
Except that there is more money in royalties from sales of games than there is from sales of Consoles when a new console is released. Evidenced by the fact that both Microsoft and Sony (especially Sony) was LOSING money on a per console sold basis when the PS3 was first released. This despite the outrageous price it was. Additionally, it takes time for everyone to Migrate over to a new system. Some early adopters are out there day 1, but lots of people wait a year or two, or until it costs less to buy. During that time, games you COULD have been selling on your previous system, will only be purchasable by those early adopters. So it's fairly reasonable to assume that putting out a new system costs BIG money and actually lowers overall revenue on new games. Why bother with this huge investment if it's not necessary? The Wii U isn't going to be way better looking than the PS3 or the 360 from what I'm aware of. It's apparently just going to look AS good. Why be worried about that?

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xxmrcyanidexx
Joined: May 2011

Posted: Aug 24th, 2011 at 2:18 pm
Yeah! Why doesn't Microsoft and Sony hastily come out with a new console! Why not?! Make people buy entirely new consoles! Focus entirely on 3D! The X3DBOX! There you go! Follow the Nintendo model! ....wait....uh....maybe not.

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Bras
Joined: Jul 2008

Posted: Aug 24th, 2011 at 10:07 pm
I just got a PS3 slim and the last thing I want is a new generation of consoles.

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wilfrido1lora
Joined: Jan 2012

Posted: Jan 19th, 2012 at 4:50 pm
hope they have free live have any of you guys seen the WoW adds or cars i was like What and now we have to pay to well i know it isnt free but seriuss

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