Gamers don't want a new Xbox, says exec

By Robert Purchese Published 15 September, 2009

Spencer reckons they'll be happy with Natal.

Microsoft Game Studios boss Phil Spencer reckons you don't want another Xbox machine at the moment, but is focusing instead on offering a "huge return" on your original Xbox 360 investment.

"What Don [Mattrick] was saying was that when Natal comes out it will feel like a new generation has come. I see it as like the launch of the Xbox 360 back in 2005 - there will be a launch portfolio of games to support it," Spencer told Develop.

"And in terms of putting more hardware on the market, what else can we do? Put more memory in it? I don't think that's enough. We like where we are at with the box - 360 currently has a great price point. Consumers don't want another $400 box right now.

"We instead want consumers and developers to know that we are all going to make a huge return on that original investment in the hardware - the one Microsoft made in building it, the one developers made in making games for it, and the investment consumers made in buying the console," he added. "In the current climate that's something people are going to appreciate much more."

Software, said Spencer, is Microsoft's "heart and soul", as the company demonstrated by effectively re-launching Xbox Live with the New Xbox Experience.

"It's not about trying to sell consumers a new piece of hardware at the wrong time, it's about evolving the platform continuously," he explained.

Spencer reinforced Microsoft's commitment to the long-term life of Xbox 360 by suggesting that the console hadn't yet peaked in this, its fourth year on sale.

"When before has there been a console that hasn't peaked and is in its fourth year still growing and offering so much potential?" he asked.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (89) Latest comment 2 years ago

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

  • LHH #1 2 years ago

    A reliable console would be great and I wouldn't welcome a new console so soon, especially when this gen has only just got started
    Edited by 1 at 15/09/09 @ 11:28

  • effinjamie #2 2 years ago

    I would have to agree, I certainly do not want the expense of a new console generation yet, I have too much invested in Xbox 360 and PS3 and feel that neither of these have fulfilled my expectations yet.

  • DutchDemons #3 2 years ago

    good choice i reckon, well about the 'no new xbox' bit anyway..still not sure about Natal.

    Then again, I wasn't sure about the wii...maybe this will sell loads as well.
    Edited by 1 at 15/09/09 @ 10:43

  • uglygamer #4 2 years ago

    The console is fine at the moment,. But I am getting a little irritated that the PS3 and XBOX 360 are starting to look a little dated graphically. Dont get me wrong though, they are still awesome consoles

  • KDR_11k #5 2 years ago

    Indeed, what would we want a new console for? That's just a several hundred Euro interruption to our stream of games.

  • MiniAmin #6 2 years ago

    Spencer's spiel about a "return on the original investment" is a red herring. People don't want the Xbox 720 yet. What people want is a quieter, smaller, more reliable Xbox 360.

  • woodnotes #7 2 years ago

    I want a smaller, more reliable and whisper-quiet 360.

  • Dizzy #8 2 years ago

    I would like a new machine.

    5 years is more than enough for me, but yeah.. maybe the timing is not right. Guess I will upgrade my PC instead ;)

  • MyPointIs #9 2 years ago

    That's just a several hundred Euro interruption to our stream of games.

    Not just that, but more importantly, a two-year dip in quality as developers get to grips with new hardware.

  • LilithsCurves #10 2 years ago

    I think what he meant to say was:

    "Well, we have a lot invested in this generation and it's about time to make us some money. We will bring up new attach things like the other companies did/will, so we can sell that stuff with some profit and sell some games that have a broader appeal. Obviously our gaming division wants to get on the plus side of accounting that is out priority, along with securing some market share."

    Sometimes i wonder why they do make a good game every now and then, when they would be better off making sequel over sequel over sequel of the same game (and it's entire gameplay).

  • Arwin #11 2 years ago

    My return of investment would be much better if I didn't have to pay 59,99 for online play in Europe, or if I didn't have to pay a small fortune for a slightly less tiny harddrive, or if I didn't have to get a different racing wheel for it (already bought the MS Wheel, but now I want a G27 and again I can't use that on the 360).

    Those things really mess up the return of investment for me. I've payed for Live for 6 years already and I just cancelled it this summer because I was fed-up and my PS3 suits me just fine. I may return to gold status briefly for Forza 3, but unless its really good AND GT5 really sucks or gets delayed, that won't last for much more than a month.

    As it stands, even though I bought my original 360 for 160 euros from a colleague who won it in Germany (and that a few months after launch, the 20GB 'Pro' version with no HDMI), my return of investment on Xbox gaming has been rather bad. I know there is a really expensive Fanatec wheel out there that works with all consoles (or at least Forza 3 on 360) and PC, which is a small miracle, but to get it with everything included it's ridiculously expensive.

    And I know that you can shop around these days and get Live Gold subscriptions a little cheaper (37,99 is the best I could find where I live), and that helps some, but I still think it should be free in Europe, especially since we're really not getting anything worth paying for.
    Edited by 1 at 15/09/09 @ 10:58

  • BabyJesus #12 2 years ago

    Good comments by Phil Spencer.

    Not interested in the next generation yet, especially when the boundaries of the current gen are still to be fully realised.

    I'll happily wait another 2 years or so.

    @arwin Why bring a totally unrelated subject into these comments?
    Edited by 2 at 15/09/09 @ 10:59

  • AphoticCosmos #13 2 years ago

    I really don't want a new generation just yet - I still feel that all three consoles still have a ways to go before needing to be replaced.

  • miiiguel #14 2 years ago

    "I'd like a new one soon as well. It's getting a bit... "

    As much as I'd like a new "generation", tell us, what this new one could bring to deserve the name of "new" ? Native 1080p in all games? Is that enough?, when some/lots of ppl complain that the current gen only brought some shiny graphics? What's the diference between a 2000 euro PC and a 360? Do you feel there's a genration gap, like it was when we jumped from 800Mhz Xbox 180 to 3x 3.2 Ghz of the Xbox 360?

  • RESIDENT_nEVILe #15 2 years ago

    I wouldn't mind a new Xboxen. Maybe not now, but within the next 1 - 2 years.

    I think the 360 could go the distance, but new tech is always exciting, And I'm a grapics whore ;)

  • bad09 #16 2 years ago

    "5 years is more than enough for me, but yeah.. maybe the timing is not right. Guess I will upgrade my PC instead ;) "

    Exactly what I just did :)

  • Yossarian #17 2 years ago

    I'd like a new one within the next two years.

  • b00n #18 2 years ago

    I think we're still fine for a couple of years with the 360, especially with NATAL coming it will give it a bit of fresh air, AS LONG as they don't all suddenly start making Wii games. But that won't happen probably.

    I also don't think the recently produced Xbox 360's still have the reliability problems the first gen's had, not in the way that it's worse than PS3 or Wii. On the other hand, would happy buy a redesigned Elite that's quieter, smaller and has a new look, including built-in wifi and big hard disk.

    So yea, don't want the Xbox 3, but would like a redesign that's similar to the PS2 Slimline vs PS2.

  • andywilkie35 #19 2 years ago

    Personally I don't want Natal and I don't want a new console, whilst its still churning out quality games I'm more than happy to stick with this generation for a few more years.

  • JonFE #20 2 years ago

    @Dizzy and disc:

    Is that the gamer or the developer inside of you that want a new machine?

  • JahB #21 2 years ago

    As much as I'd like a new "generation", tell us, what this new one could bring to deserve the name of "new" ? Native 1080p in all games? Is that enough?

    yes, that's fully enough. a basic minimum of native 1080p at 60 fps, that's all i'd expect from a new console.

  • Dizzy #22 2 years ago

    "As much as I'd like a new "generation", tell us, what this new one could bring to deserve the name of "new" ? Native 1080p in all games?"

    I can think of plenty.

    A lot more memory... specific hardware for doing physics/procedural content generation so this can finally be done in near-realtime by devs (with full support in the SDK). No more slow ass optical drives (dump em! I want games as download only or on solid state), 1080p for all games, Natal build in (ok ok that is not ready yet) and DX11 support.

    I want smaller procedural generated games with much better AI. Procedural generated L4D for example. Make it happen! The technology to do this is here, we just need the hardware. PC games will move in that direction very soon.

    "Is that the gamer or the developer inside of you that want a new machine? "

    Hmmm good question. I guess the developer. The gamer in me has been quite happy playing all the awesome XBLA stuff and L4D ;) To be honest, I could go back to a console that only support XBLA games, no more big budget titles for me. Hmmm maybe that would be a Wii with HD graphics then?
    Edited by 4 at 15/09/09 @ 11:13

  • Darren #23 2 years ago

    I want a new Xbox with native 1080p support, 4X AA as standard, 4 GB of unified memory, DX11 support, DD 7.1 audio, Blu-ray drive, 500 GB hard drive, the works. Oh and more reliable hardware.

    When's it out? :)

  • TonyCocaCola #24 2 years ago

    No. I want faster, bigger, shinier, louder, games with bigger explosions, bigger open worlds, physics applied to an unnecessarily fine level with more guns, more upgrades, more everything and i want a new console every 6 months. I dont care about Natal, i cannot be bothered to do anything more than sit on my arse, hold a controller and move my thumbs. GO

  • Farstarbuck #25 2 years ago

    No we dont need another console leap, yes we need a smaller, quieter, sexier xbox 360 NOW.

    Its ugly and likely to break anytime. Yes your 3 year warranty was much appreciated MS, but bring me a smaller version and I'll happily invest another 150 quid in the console.

    My pie in the sky request is the ability to play games from the Hard Drive. Install with game disc is really a bit of a joke, yes its quieter but having the ability to install the game on the HD and play would be great!

  • JonFE #26 2 years ago

    @Darren, you already have most of that in your i7 PC and the rest will be added when Windows 7 hits the streets :)
    Edited by 1 at 15/09/09 @ 11:08

  • cianchristopher #27 2 years ago

    It's true that the two consoles are looking a bit dated in some games (I'm lucky/crazy enough to have an uber pc and can see the difference quite clearly) but some games still have wonderful graphics. Batman: AA, Resident Evil 5 and Fight Night Round 4 all look stunnig on the 360 to me.

    And maybe this guy is right about Microsoft's focus on software (it's not like hardware is their strong suit, is it?). I own about 30 games on 360 and 20 on PS3, I don't even wanna see or hear about a new console for years. I need to get value out of the ones I have (I've spent a lot of money to date this gen, far too much really)....

  • Dizzy #28 2 years ago

    "My pie in the sky request is the ability to play games from the Hard Drive. Install with game disc is really a bit of a joke, yes its quieter but having the ability to install the game on the HD and play would be great! "

    ??? You have that.

  • midnight_walker #29 2 years ago

    "My pie in the sky request is the ability to play games from the Hard Drive. Install with game disc is really a bit of a joke, yes its quieter but having the ability to install the game on the HD and play would be great! "

    I take it you mean play without the disc in the drive. Surely you don't need us to explain why that's a requirement.

  • JonFE #30 2 years ago

    @Dizzy:

    Judging by the improvements you suggest I'd assuming it's the developer speaking as well. Which is fine from that POV. But from the consumer side and under the current economic climate, it's really difficult to justify a new console when the current ones still feel like having potential.

    Not to mention that if Microsoft was the first to release a new console (as theirs is the oldest), they would have the extra trouble of convincing early adopters, given the reliability issues the x360 faced.

    IMHO, MS are wise to push Natal as the evolution of the x360 (and beyond). This way it will feel fresh and new without a big extra investment - as long as it delivers the goods.

  • Inquisitor #31 2 years ago

    I don't think we need hear mention of a new 360 till 2011 at the earliest. An updated 360 in 2010 with inbuilt Natal and a smaller, streamlined, more reliable and quieter drive should push the need for a new console back even further. Microsoft are in no rush this generation. The 360 is doing well and making them money and they know the PS3 is in it for the long haul so no need to rush out a new but of kit this time around. Why jeopardise that with expensive new hardware.

  • dr_faulk #32 2 years ago

    Please do not give us another expensive console. At the same time, please don't give us under-powered pap that's flooded with re-hashes of previous gen games.

  • Bazfrag #33 2 years ago

    "When before has there been a console that hasn't peaked and is in its fourth year still growing and offering so much potential?" he asked.

    erm Nes, Snes, ps1, ps2 and dare i say it - xbox.

  • canIdoyabombsforya #34 2 years ago

    This could pave the way for Apple and/or Sega, to release something cutting edge ;))

  • nickthegun #35 2 years ago

    Win win. Consumers want a new money sink as much as MS.

  • JonFE #36 2 years ago

    @ CraigB27:

    I seriously doubt Microsoft are planning Natal to replace all traditional control schemes. They will encourage support for it, but they are not stupid enough to lose the pad entirely. And there's nothing wrong with "jiggling about like a fool in my living room". I do it all the time and I'm older than you :)

  • Buztafen #37 2 years ago

    Why would i want a new console...its taken this long for most of my mates to get on board, i dont want to have to shell out £400 on a new box only to have noone to play on it with.
    Edited by 1 at 15/09/09 @ 12:03

  • Bazfrag #38 2 years ago

    @craig

    I'm not exactly a fan of motion controls either, but lets see what they have to offer before we shoot natal down. They have more planned than just minigames... i hope. However it could be a simple game that popularises it, which wouldn't be a bad thing tbh.

  • JahB #39 2 years ago

    Win win. Consumers want a new money sink as much as MS.

    manufacturers don't make money on consoles.

    unless they repack their old hardware, tack on motion controls and flood the market with shovelware.

  • MiniAmin #40 2 years ago

    @ CraigB27

    Stealth "i haz GF" post?

    In any case I doubt she'd laugh at you for playing Natal. She's probably playing Wii. Half the country (UK) are already jumping about having fun whilst playing Wii and only elitist gamers are laughing at them. I haven't seen anyone at MS market Natal as a device which is intended to supplant "traditional" control pads. Nobody will force you to use Natal.
    Edited by 1 at 15/09/09 @ 12:10

  • Jay-ITFC #41 2 years ago

    The fruits of the current-gen are just coming through, certainly will be by Xmas anyway. Next-gen isn't necessary for another 2 years at least I'd say.

  • MiniAmin #42 2 years ago

    @ CraigB27

    "Stealth I haz GF post". I said that because i'm not sure it was relevant to mention your GF. Quite often on gaming websites people will say something irrelevant just to mention their girlfriends. I apologise if that wasn't the case with your post. My point was that you shouldn't shun Natal because you think it doesn't look cool. Also, I doubt that Natal is seen as a replacement to traditional control pads.

  • ps3owner #43 2 years ago

    goes for the low rank record:

    PS3 FTW!!!!

  • Toothball #44 2 years ago

    I'd probably buy a new Xbox if they were to make a new one, but I'm not going to complain if they're doing more with my current one. Should still be room for a slim one along the way though.

  • Bazfrag #45 2 years ago

    **Ps3owner does not represent ps3 owners :p
    Edited by 1 at 15/09/09 @ 12:33

  • t8yman #46 2 years ago

    the 360 is just fine, but a "slim"n"lite" would be nice, especially if it was quiet. The games are great, the graphics are just fine n dandy - unless you are a real gfx whore.

    Its nice to see a company not trying to replace its kit every year (like apple do).

  • jonsaan #47 2 years ago

    It''ll be nice to have a generation where the harddware gets fully utilised and is made to sweat. And lets face it, launch titles suck. This gen is only really starting to hit its stride recently. No new consoles till 2012 please. Refinements excepted of course.

  • MiniAmin #48 2 years ago

    @ CraigB27

    I didn't realise people still receive grief for gaming. I don't fully agree with you. But I understand what you're weary of now.

  • jmg123 #49 2 years ago

    @Darren
    Ps3 has the majority of those things you want already - getting software that supports them is a diffrent matter though.

  • Spekingur #50 2 years ago

    A new Xbox will be released in 2012 and... "cause the end of the world!!!!" - or something :D

  • miiiguel #51 2 years ago

    I'm not sure we will ever be seing a slim 360, it's not in MS genetic code.
    Edited by 1 at 15/09/09 @ 12:58

  • AliRay #52 2 years ago

    @ CraigB27

    Look, if it's really a problem, just deflate your girlfriend, fold her up and shove her back under your bed for a while.

    Joking mate ;)

  • linksdad #53 2 years ago

    I want a next gen xbox with natal included please.

    Natal is going to be a waste of money and effort for all concerned for this generation, it will be the xbox 360 32x

  • metalangel #54 2 years ago

    So long as you don't 32X/Saturn us, that's fine. I don't see anything really improving on what we've got at the moment anyway.

  • pinochet_cz #55 2 years ago

    On other hand..why are developers calling for sub 720p resolutions?

  • berelain #56 2 years ago

    @ Craig B27 I have to disagree a little there. I think that the controller is one of the biggest barriers to gaming hitting more mainstream audiences- look at the sucess of titles like Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and of course the Wii- that focus on using unique interfaces to appeal to more people.

    My gf loves her RPGs, and she just started playing Mass Effect, but she's having real problems with the controller, because she's just not used to having to use two analogue sticks at once. If she could control it by waving a remote around, it'd be a lot more intuitive for her, and I daresay she'd play a lot of other games too. Same goes for a lot of our friends- they'll come round and have great fun if we break out the Rock Band or Buzz, but give them a controller and they don't know what to do.

    As for Natal, well, I'm on the fence. The tech is impressive, but its all down to the implementation. The news the other day of GT5 working with the Playstation Eye to let you use head movements to look around is exactly the sort of thing I want to see Natal doing; optional interfaces that supplement existing control schemes. For example, use the face-tracking in an RPG to get a character to look directly at you when talking to you, that sort of thing.
    Edited by 1 at 15/09/09 @ 13:09

  • berelain #57 2 years ago

    @Craig - yeah, the antisocial thing always gets me. Most games I play are either played online with friends (or strangers) or co-op with other people around. How that equates to antisocial is beyond me. ^^

  • mkreku #58 2 years ago

    I wonder how good they'd be able to make the games if they released the Xbox 540 (yeah, not quite 720) with the exact same processor, 2 GB RAM (dead cheap now!) and a GPU based on generation 4 ATI (instead of the gen 2 the Xbox 360 is using)? Throw in a 4x Blu-Ray, 120 GB hd and built in wireless N.. It should still be quite cheap to produce!

    With those specs, it would be easy to make it backwards compatible with the Xbox 360 too. Win!

  • darkphoenix #59 2 years ago

    I want a new Xbox!

  • M_of_the_sys #60 2 years ago

    Is this a stealth "10 year life cycle" comment from MS? :o

  • muscleblade #61 2 years ago

    @CraigB27

    Ive already run into that sort of problem with Guitar Hero. Thats why i didnt buy Rock Band or world tour.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #62 2 years ago

    The games market at present hasn't had the 'Half-Life 2' moment, when a game came out that clearly could no be made to work on the current gaming hardware (PS2 and GameCube, at any rate. Xbox 1 was sort of half-a-generation ahead with its programmable shaders, large-ish memory and hard drive). Unless or until that happens, it's in everyone's best interest that we stick with what we've got.

    Given that people haven't rushed to buy consoles that can sort-of-mostly handle graphics at 720p, 30fps, I can hardly see them paying between 250 and 450 quid to have literally the same games with a much less noticeable increase in screen res.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #63 2 years ago

    And what does DirectX 11 even supposedly do, that people want it?

  • B0MBJ4CK #64 2 years ago

    Didn't MS say they were going to redesign the current gen Xbox with the Natal tech built in (as well as release a stand alone Natal for existing consoles)?
    Or did I make that up?

  • Pasco #65 2 years ago

    You people rate others down as if they were trolls just because they want more powerful hardware right now? Seriously?

  • Turrican #66 2 years ago

    I want a new Xbox - but thats because my already replaced 5 year old model just died.

    But seriously, MS killed the first Xbox before its time, and given the recent realisation that HD gaming is taking a lot longer to saturate the market, plus the fact that Xbox 360 has the best game attachment rate of all the consoles, it makes sense for them to keep it going longer.

    I agree with others though, a quieter drive, integrated power brick and facelift would help.
    Edited by 1 at 15/09/09 @ 14:34

  • Widge #67 2 years ago

    Apparently DX11 does what DX10 was meant to do but failed.

  • miiiguel #68 2 years ago

    Which is?

  • Bazfrag #69 2 years ago

    "Apparently DX11 does what DX10 was meant to do but failed."

    i.e not completely cripple framerates for the sake of slightly better lighting and particles.

  • Calgon #70 2 years ago

    Good to hear this coming from Microsoft and it is in the majority of the industry's best interests too; the devs, the gamers(most of them) and the platform holders. The amount of investment a new generation required to stay competative for devs and platform holders is huge and it's increasing(apparently). There's sometimes casualities too with devs closing their doors as a result, which normally has a negative impact on the rest of dev community(more likely to play it safe, sequels and so on).

    I think they will do an Xbox360-lite to go with the relaunch/Natal launch(CPU and GPU on one chip is the next planned revision which can't be too far off now), one thing I dont agree with is integrating the power supply; you can make it smaller and reduce heat with the power brick solution.

  • Darren #71 2 years ago

    @Mentalist(air) - "And what does DirectX 11 even supposedly do, that people want it?"

    It's soon to hit the PC with the official launch of Windows 7 and new graphics cards from NVIDIA and ATI and will allow for even prettier graphics with more advanced and realistic lighting, hardware tessellation (more detailed models without using lots of memory) and more sophisticated particle effects, etc., etc., so naturally the next Xbox will have to support it. That said, by the time the Xbox 360's successor launches in 2012 (as is predicted) DirectX 12 will probably have replaced it!

  • Widge #72 2 years ago

    Yeah I'll go with Bazfrag. Won't pretend that I know what on earth is going on from skim reading forums. I read the odd statement but it could be ATi/Nvidia fanboy war stuff, Nvidia demanded that some features were left out of DX10 (resulting the broken thing we got) and DX11 is now the woohah version with all the bells and whistles in it.

    Sounds remarkably like the opinion of Vista to Win 7.

    As I say, I have about 0% factual knowledge on it so won't digress!

  • aids #73 2 years ago

    Xbox slim with 250gb drive please.

  • Olemak #74 2 years ago

    He is partly right. I am a gamer, and I don't want an Xbox. Not a new one, and not the old one.

    I'd probably go for a silent, reliable slimline Xbox tho.

  • Vordred #75 2 years ago

    well i think we dont need a new one right now, another 5 years is also to long aswell, maybe another year or two at the most.

    i think the 10 year life cycle plan is to long to be stuck with the same console

  • JonFE #76 2 years ago

    Where did CraigB27 go?

  • wobbly_Bob #77 2 years ago

    I would be very happy for this generation ( and for each generat ion beyond the current ) to be far longer than the traditional 4 year. I think it just makes so much sense for the consumer and the console maker. I think at least a 6 year cycle would be better - if not longer.

  • Incarta #78 2 years ago

    I could be a real dick and say "At least Nintendo stuck two gamecubes together when they launched new hardware. Microsoft's next console is just one Xbox 360!"

    But!

    I actually think it's a good idea. We're far too obssessed with cutting edge technology and the high cost of it all can't be good for development of games.

    A slim, new, reliable design bundled with Natel could do well at the right price. It'll be interesting to see what they do.

  • layleeloo #79 2 years ago

    @ ghengisnaan

    "There really is nothing on the PC that can't be done on the existing consoles. In the past this was the driving factor. We're not missing out on anything."

    Are you having a laugh? I have all the current gen colsoles and a £3.5K gaming PC and believe me mate, there is shit load on the PC the current gen of consoles can not do. This does not mean the current gen of consoles are bad as they are not - they are brill. Trials HD has restored my faith in the 360 all over again. But seriously, know your stuff before you make comments like that. Crysis around 2 years ago was way beyond anything the current consoles can not do, let alone games and technology coming out now.
    Edited by 1 at 15/09/09 @ 17:43

  • rydek #80 2 years ago

    Hmm, be happy with natal, no thank you, i played the eye toy which in my opinion this is except you can talk to little kids XD.

    I think ill stick with the 360,

  • hahayou #81 2 years ago

    To be honest, as much as we don't really need a new Xbox right now, we'd probably be a lot happier with Natal if it came bundled with one. With a bigger guaranteed userbase devs ought to be more comfortable exploring the more niche and oddball applications - so we ought to end up with a lot more games to really justify it.

  • Agent_Llama #82 2 years ago

    I'd be happy with the price of the big hard drives coming down from their artificial high.

  • byakuya83 #83 2 years ago

    The next gen will need to have 1080p and 60fps are standard, but doing that in an affordable way for a console isn't happening anytime soon. I like the look of the 360 but it would be great if it included wireless internet and a battery save - I'm not asking for a new console. I had terrible trouble with game saves due to the lack of a battery save - only rectified once I got the wi-fi adapter for £59.99, due to being far away from the router. Might as well have paid more initially and got the PS3!

  • IronCladChicken #84 2 years ago

    @layleeloo
    A 3.5K gaming machine would be a huge waste of money

  • mizcicz #85 2 years ago

    i want a new microsoft machine in exactly 1,5 years...

  • TheJuriel #86 2 years ago

    I'm happy if they'll wait for console manufacturing prices to come down for two more years before starting to talk about ushering in a new generation. The current gen now are reaching a good proliferation, there's no need to fracture the player base and increase game development costs even further.

    Plus, Natal, interested how that affects games and stuff.

  • waynenot #87 2 years ago

    a "huge return" on your original Xbox 360 investment.

    I've returned mine four times *badoom tish*

  • Kami #88 2 years ago

    This generation of consoles is undoubtedly going to be much, much longer than we're used to - it's not just technically we're reaching the limits, but also cost effectiveness. Can we remind ourselves that we are (depending on who you believe) in the middle or at the tail end of a recession, and people are feeling the pinch more than ever.

    He's right. Natal I am still not convinced by (like many), but we don't need a next-gen just yet. Not for another few years yet I think, which means that SOny may have been onto something with their 10-Year plan...

    Just a shame for Sony that plan may equally just apply across the board...

  • actionfitz #89 2 years ago

    "Microsoft Game Studios boss Phil Spencer reckons you don't want another Xbox machine at the moment, but is focusing instead on offering..."

    ...a box that doesnt go tits-up if you have the audacity to play games on it.
    When you do get around to making a new box Phil, how about some quality Assurance this time round?