Ballmer hints at new Xbox form factors?

By Tom Bramwell Published 8 March, 2010

Or doesn't. Ambiguous quotes for the win!

Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer apparently hinted at new form factors for Xbox 360 during a University of Washington Q&A last Thursday.

Ballmer was speaking about how Microsoft has a mixture of strategies for approaching TV, including "a TV implementation in some senses built into Windows", and of course the Xbox business.

"It works really well for small screen TVs that you might call a PC," Ballmer said of the Windows option (thanks Gearlog, via Kotaku), "but for that big-screen device here's a piece of hardware that we build, there's no diversity. You get exactly the Xboxes that we build for you.

"We may have more form factors in the future that are designed for various price points and options, but we think it's going to [be] important."

Rumours have previously spread of a secret Microsoft plan to bundle Project Natal with Xbox 360 following the hands-free controller system's launch this year, although there's been no word of that since.

It's also difficult to tell whether Ballmer's comments specifically refer to Xbox revisions, or whether he is answering the broader question of Microsoft's approach to TV, in which case the talk of "more form factors" may mean something else entirely.

But hey, Steve Ballmer mentioned Xbox! It's catnip.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (16) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Aretak #1 2 years ago

    I think Ballmer's on something stronger than catnip most of the time.

  • NewbieZilla #2 2 years ago

    Say what you want about the guy, but he certainly enjoys his career.

  • X #3 2 years ago

    Developers Developers Developers Developers!

  • matrim83 #4 2 years ago

    ^^Aww man I was gonna do that. :(

  • LHH #5 2 years ago

    Didn't a Microsoft spokesman (can't recall tbh) mention a couple of years ago that they were thinking of eventually building the 360 hardware straight into TVs?

  • Ignatius_Cheese #6 2 years ago

    All manufacturers have, at one point in every generation, talked about integrating their console technology into TVs. It just ain't a good idea...

  • SniperZoz #7 2 years ago

    i think he was speaking generally .. and not really hinting at new xbox form-factors

  • kongzi #8 2 years ago

    if he's talking about new xboxes he;s talking about smaller ones, with less functionality: like a box that can stream audio and video from xbox live but is not a gaming machine.

  • Doctor_What #9 2 years ago

    I wouldn't want anything built by MS involved with my TV - the lifespan of the hardware's relvance is too short (and that's ignoring the aspect of reliability).

    EDIT for typo.
    Edited by 1 at 08/03/10 @ 10:21

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #10 2 years ago

    All manufacturers have, at one point in every generation, talked about integrating their console technology into TVs. It just ain't a good idea...

    Have you seen the new medium-to-high end TVs that are coming out these days?

    This is the web site for the SDK so you can program your own widgets for various major brands of TV that come with little Arm Linux computers in them, that connect to the internet and read SD cards and all sorts of shit. Some of them are coming with webcams you they can be HD skype videoconference units.
    Edited by 1 at 08/03/10 @ 10:24

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #11 2 years ago

    Not to mention the fact you can get a small HDTV with a DVD player built in for like 120 quid these days. If people are stuffing small media center devices into TVs these days, shouldn't Microsoft be considering persuading them to make those Xbox 360 innards?


    Edit: What's going on that the comment system wouldn't let me post the contents of these two posts together?
    Edited by 1 at 08/03/10 @ 10:26

  • hahayou #12 2 years ago

    @kongzi

    Exactly. From the Gearlog article I'd have said he was talking about an AppleTV type device that could access their current Live video service.

    Also, he seems to be suggesting that PCs don't plug into big TVs... What the fuck is Windows Media Center supposed to be then?
    Edited by 1 at 08/03/10 @ 10:47

  • Drpwnage #13 2 years ago

    360 could do with a shrink and form factor refresh anyway. Smaller, cooler, cheaper would set it up well for the next few years.

  • Gastrian #14 2 years ago

    @hahayou

    A lot of TV viewing via Windows is still restricted to either the bedroom or the study/spare room as the majority of HTPCs either look like small PCs or 80's HiFis and really aren't that great for living rooms. The Xbox360, Wii and PS3 look like home entertainment equipment and aesthetically will look right next to your big TV.

  • darren1976 #15 2 years ago

    The 360 is crying out for revised design. Have both PS3 and 360 Elite and as time goes by the 360 just seems to get uglier next to my slim (still gets used much more mind!). They need to make it smaller, quieter and colder! If there isn't a revision when Natal is released I'd be shocked.

  • spliffhead #16 2 years ago

    The price reductions on the 360 packages at the moment are very tempting as a day one 20gb owner (4xrrod) £148 for an Elite at Sainburys does hint that they are shifting old stock for nice new Natal/Diet 360 boxes.