Next Xbox already in planning

By Tom Bramwell Published 17 October, 2006

"That's happening right now."

Microsoft EMEA veep Chris Lewis says the company is already working on its next next-generation console because "we have to".

Preliminary work is already under way, he told UK games site Kikizo.

"You can't sit back on your laurels in this business - the consumer won't let you, the developers certainly won't let us. So that's happening right now," he said.

The research and development practices of the console division are "no different than any other part of Microsoft" though, he insisted.

The news that Microsoft is already working on an Xbox 360 successor won't come as much surprise, mind - having been last to market with its first Xbox, the company was first to market in the next generation.

"You'll see more over time - certainly we're not talking about the next version yet," Lewis added, continuing to not talk about it, "so give us a chance to catch a breath, will you?"

Coming soon, presumably: "Nintendo going for another Wii. 'You can only hold it for so long,' a spokesperson commented as he dashed past."

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 (92) Latest comment 5 years ago

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

  • #1 5 years ago

    O_o

    But of course.

  • KD #2 5 years ago

    if Vista is anything to go by then we might get it by 2015 :p

  • mad_manic_man #3 5 years ago

    catch ur breath. Ahhhh no. Work godamn Harder

  • stevencole7 #4 5 years ago

    "Xbox 720 ???"

  • mad_manic_man #5 5 years ago

    @ stevencole7
    ha gud 1

  • Steroyd #6 5 years ago

    /ponders if they'll drop the Xbox 360 in the same manner as the Xbox.

    ....Nah!!

  • smoison #7 5 years ago

    Now With HD-DVD AND a 3D wand like remote to contole the games!

  • Stormflood #8 5 years ago

    @smoison

    Nah, games will NEVER need to be bigger than a DVD. Some gamers told me so. ;)

  • captainrentboy #9 5 years ago

    Fuck me that's quite a silly statement to make,the 360 has been out less than a year they really shouldn't be talking about its successor already,even if it is only in very early stages of planning,the average consumer is fully aware of the original xbox's fairly short lifespan when compared to the PS2,Microsoft don't want those same people thinking that the 360 will be killed off within the next 2 years or so.
    Stupid bastards...

  • oceanmotion #10 5 years ago

    Fair enough, sure Sony & Nintendo are planning the next ones too. At least MS has made the 360 hardware profitable unlike the Xbox which is why they dropped it completely. I expect them to go the route of Sony and make a smaller one near the end.

    Still, absolutely idiotic thing to say. A lot of consumers favour the Playstation brand over Xbox because it lasts longer.
    Edited by 2 at 17/10/06 @ 13:17

  • bavelb #11 5 years ago

    Isnt Sony planning on a PS4 already (they are showing so by thinking on how it will handle storage). Businessplans don't stop once your machine rolls of the belt.

    Agreed that Sony has made playstation lifecycles very longlasting. But is that the norm? What were previous gen lifecycles? In my mind a lot shorter then Sony's (Wii is my fifth nintendo console in 18 years 18/4 = 4.5 year cycle on avg)
    Edited by 1 at 17/10/06 @ 13:22

  • RedPanda #12 5 years ago

    Post deleted at 14:31:59 28-01-2012

  • Razzajazz #13 5 years ago

    This is part of Microsoft's plan to make Sony shit their pants. You can bet that as soon as the PS3 becomes profitable, they'll start announcing details on the next Xbox. They're just trying to continually make Sony play catch-up, whereas Sony like to draw out profitability over a long life span.

    It's a very shady strategy, but unless Sony can make the PS3 profitable in a very short space of time, there could be trouble for them on the horizon.

    Let's just hope they build HARDWARE backwards compatibility into the next Xbox, eh?!

  • Penguinzoot #14 5 years ago

    Why is it an idiotic thing to say? What do you do with all the engineering resource that has suddenly got time on its hands following the consoles release? Pay them to drink coffee? Sack 'em?

    All manufacturers do this - whether we are talking about consoles, computers, washing machines or cars. Or if they didn't then they should. As soon as one product releases you start work on the next. In fact some manufacturers will probably have several future projects in various stages of development at ony one time.

    With regards to the lifecycle of the 360, Peter Moore has recently stated that the lifetime of the 360 is expected to be 6-8 years. But that doesn't mean the next console won't appear for 8 years. Could be be sooner. 2010 maybe.

    Let's just hope they build HARDWARE backwards compatibility into the next Xbox, eh?!

    Next time BC is likely to be a very different story to Xbox -> Xbox 360. With the 360 MS own the IP for the processor and the GPU. Hardware BC will be much easier for them next time around.


    Edited by 1 at 17/10/06 @ 13:31

  • El_MUERkO #15 5 years ago

    In two years when the PS3 has crushed their market share they'll be able to bring out a new console a 'reasonable amount of time' after the 360 but too soon for Sony to respond and try take the market that way.

  • mingster #16 5 years ago

    NeXt Box

  • Sko #17 5 years ago

    Man, I hope they don't try to force the next-next gen early again like they did with this one. The old consoles still had plenty of life in them.

  • ratso #18 5 years ago

    @woohoo:
    360 hardware is not profit making in its own right.

  • JonFE #19 5 years ago

    According to the Kikizo article:
    Asked whether preliminary work had begun on the next, next-gen, Lewis nodded in agreement with the view that "as soon as you develop something, it's old", and said: "Of course we're thinking about that... we're constantly thinking about the next thing, we have to. It's my point about complacency - you can't sit back on your laurels in this business - the consumer won't let you, the developers certainly won't let us. So that's happening right now."

    In other words, Lewis doesn't talk about a successor; he answers a question and says they have to be constantly think about the future, in order to stay in business. What's so peculiar about that?

  • Nobuo #20 5 years ago

    "Why is it an idiotic thing to say?"

    Because the last Xbox proved to be a bad investment in terms of lifespan, and that coupled with the 360s 'weak' hardware caused a lot of people to be dubious about it's ability to last before MS replaced it. So even though they're only doing what any manufacturer does, it was a bad idea to tell everyone.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #21 5 years ago

    I remember people getting all worked up about Ken Kutaragi talking about Playstation 3 before 2 was out.

    Of course they're working on the next Xbox. Do you think MS just sack all their hardware engineers when their product is finished?

  • Nobuo #22 5 years ago

    "I remember people getting all worked up about Ken Kutaragi talking about Playstation 3 before 2 was out. "

    He didn't say they were working on it though. It's a big difference and a very foolish thing to say in front of the consumer.

  • Wash #23 5 years ago

    @ratso

    I think he meant from a design aspect, where as there wasnt much room for redesign and cost cutting in the original box because everyone else had the control of the parts. Here M$ contracted the likes of IBM, ATi to make parts for them, of which they'll be able to cost cut over time themselves.

    ---
    As for the short life span of xbox 1, part of that is it was a black hole, never getting much cheaper. Therefore i would guess they'll run a bit longer and support this further into the future seeing as how they'll be able to eventually run costs down alot.

    --
    Backwards compatability all depends on the hardware they go with nxt time round. Another good reason to kill off xbox 1 is to kill ties with Nvidia and thus is the reason BC is shambles on the 360. Hopefully good relations with IBM, ATi will make BC for Xbox 3 a little easier.

  • jlaakso #24 5 years ago

    I jumped on the Xbox bandwagon relatively late and I'm happy with what I got out of it. I mean, there's still a bunch of games I need to buy, let alone play. Four years was a little short for the Xbox, yes, but it was about time the industry let go of the PS2. If it was up to Microsoft to kickstart next-gen, so be it.

  • rinoaMW #25 5 years ago

    "I expect Nintendo already has plans for the Poo :) "

    /snigger

  • Barry619 #26 5 years ago

    @yellowtruck

    "In the press today: Sony don't plan on a Playstation 4 until 2016. Thats how long the PS3 will keep Playstation followers happy for. "

    Or... the next 360 will come out around 2010 (say a console has roughly a 5 year lifespan) and every PS3 owner will start wondering why they have to stick with a obsolute machine for the next 6 years and jump ship..... not that that i believe for a second the PS3 will last till 2016.

  • The_Programmer #27 5 years ago

    "In two years when the PS3 has crushed their market share"

    Is that the latest estimate of when the PS3 will be out in Europe.

  • Darren #28 5 years ago

    I don't find anything surprising about this statement at all. All hardware manufacturers have extensive research and development for future products and I'm sure both Nintendo and Sony are considering their future consoles too. Only a completely naive person would think otherwise and it isn't like Microsoft have announced specific details or said when this new Xbox will be out. LOL

    I'd hazard a guess at the next Xbox coming out by 2010/11 though based on the lifespan of the Xbox. Personally I'm happy with that as consoles do have a tendency to date rather quickly in comparison to PCs due to their fixed hardware specs. The PS3 and Xbox 360 might be impressive now but will they still appear so in three years time when the latest state-of-the-art game hits the ever-evolving PC?

    Sony seem to have added Blu-ray, DD7.1 and 1080p compatibility to pre-empt this dating of hardware but I'd guess at its measly 512MB of memory and current-gen graphics card being the things that dates it far quicker that its specs might otherwise suggest. That's not a problem for Microsoft and its Xbox 360 though as I'm sure they have a five-year product cycle in mind for their hardware but it might be a problem for Sony as I distinctly remember them quoting a ten-year life cycle for the PS3. That might mean ten-years for machine overall rather than ten-years before they introduce the PS4 but I get the impression from what I've read that they want the PS3 to last a long time. I might be wrong though.

  • bionutz #29 5 years ago

    @yellowtruck
    Get a brain upgrade, troll!

  • holloguts #30 5 years ago

    Before the 360 launched, Bill Gates said that Microsoft are in this for the long haul, even if the 360 is not successful there will be a new Xbox to follow. So this announcement is actually very old news indeed. At the time Gates stated that the lifespan of the 360 would be 5 years. He also stated that they would have to look at what technology would be around by then and how it would change in order for the new console to benefit from the new technologies..

    It's obvious that this work would have to get under way now. Sony announced a 10 year life for the PS3, but I expect they will also be looking at their next console already.

  • mkreku #31 5 years ago

    jlaakso: "Four years was a little short for the Xbox, yes, but it was about time the industry let go of the PS2."

    Uhm.. what? I'm still waiting for the next Singstar to arrive. We're having a blast with it as a party game. I think there's also a few other titles left to be released for the Playstation 2 before it's officially announced dead. Isn't God of War 2 supposed to be out soon, for example..?

  • BettySwallocks #32 5 years ago

    Didn't Ken already outline in his keynote at the TGS what he expects from the PS4?

  • Darren #33 5 years ago

    Was that the "plug into the Matrix" speech? LOL

  • peterfll #34 5 years ago

    "Because the last Xbox proved to be a bad investment in terms of lifespan, and that coupled with the 360s 'weak' hardware"

    My Xbox = a very worthwhile investment thank you, I got my money's worth from it.
    My 360 = A very enjoyable experience thank you, hardly what I would describe as weak.

  • jonsaan #35 5 years ago

    I can bet you somewhere in a deep dark corner of MS somebody is working on the one after the next one too! You can't halt progress guys and Gals. R&D is a never ending constantly evolving process.

  • space_ace #36 5 years ago

    now do you see how pathetic ps3 is? :D
    muahaha

  • Artemus #37 5 years ago

    The 360 has a lifespan of 5 years at the most. I personally think we'll see a successor a even sooner knowing MS.

  • Sid-Nice #38 5 years ago

    I've put everybody on ignore.

    First. \o/

  • Mr_Brown #39 5 years ago

    Obviously...lets hope they don't break down in 8 months like mine did...

  • ManicDrunkMonk #40 5 years ago

    Sony should turn over a leaf, and change the name of the PS3 to the Playstation 4. This way all that bad publicity will no longer matter cos it's sooo last gen!

  • stoopidgreg #41 5 years ago

    the next xbox won't be out for another 8 years, trust me.

  • UncleLou #42 5 years ago

    This is part of Microsoft's plan to make Sony shit their pants. You can bet that as soon as the PS3 becomes profitable, they'll start announcing details on the next Xbox. They're just trying to continually make Sony play catch-up, whereas Sony like to draw out profitability over a long life span.

    It's a very shady strategy, but unless Sony can make the PS3 profitable in a very short space of time, there could be trouble for them on the horizon.

    Exactly what I am thinking - it might lead to hardware generations that are entirely asynchronous, or Sony could fold under the pressure, or gamers start boycotting the Xbox because the lifespans get too short. Who knows. :)

  • chronom4n #43 5 years ago

    bloody hell, i think i will wait for that one!

  • bladeaku #44 5 years ago

    The technology is getting better and better every month,your going to see the lifespan of consoles being half what it used to be.
    I know a sales rep who worked for Nvidia, and he says they have already finished new graphics cards for pc which wont be hitting retail until 2008.
    They are always a good few years ahead,when you buy the latest graphics card chances are its a good year old before it hits retail.
    This is just the way it is.

  • Artemus #45 5 years ago

    "t might lead to hardware generations that are entirely asynchronous"

    I can see this happening. Sony want a 10-year life-cycle with PS3. There's no way the 360 will last anywhere near that (5 years max). But even with pressure from a new MS console, I seriously doubt Sony would drop their PS3 strategy.

  • McGeeza #46 5 years ago

    Am I the only person who thinks it is a good thing that we'll only have to wait around four years before we see the 'next gen'?

    I personally couldn't give a shit who makes it as long as i don't have to wait until 2016...

  • miiiguel #47 5 years ago

    yellowtruck : that's too much wishfull thinking... Do you really believe tha MS will ever go away, in this buisness or anyone ?
    They'll keep on coming, over and over again, until they enter your house like Windows did.

    Only old timers and "uncle scrooges" want to have an electronic device for ten years. Not even a coffee machine is worth owning for that long. Imagine a computer, a mobile phone, even a car with ten years...!

    "In the press today: Sony don't plan on a Playstation 4 until 2016. Thats how long the PS3 will keep Playstation followers happy for."
    - It's the other way arround, Sony will lauch PS4 when they feel PS3 stopped selling, don't be naive to think that PS3 will (eventually) exist because you were tired of your 7 years machine, they'll start selling it (eventually) because there is a 360, if not PS2 would continue, happy ever after (read until it was selling).
    Sony does not exist to make you happy, it exists to make money.
    Edited by 3 at 17/10/06 @ 16:34

  • tonynibbles #48 5 years ago

    Maybe they'll put a decent disc drive in the next one.

  • Khanivor #49 5 years ago

    You comments boys have really outshown yourselves with this one :D

  • AOFanboi #50 5 years ago

    The difference between Sony and Microsoft is that when Sony releases a console they don't slaughter the previous generation. When the 360 was launched, however, no furhter XBox games were produced. Meanwhile, even as the PS3 was announced, the ages-old PS1 had games released for it...

  • miiiguel #51 5 years ago

    yeah... I must admit that Sony is an altruistic company, I can even admit they resemble more of a NGO than a profit organization.

    But AOFanboi..., I don't think that MS had the exclusivity to develop titles for the XB ..., did MS forced third-parties to stop developing for it ? Is not allowed anymore ?

    Anyway..., I bought FIFA07 for the XB to my nephew yesterday... was it developed last year ? I'm thinking of buying Justice League Heroes also for the XB that'll be out 16 November/2006...??? How come there's no more games ?, I could swear that my nephew phoned saying that he liked the game...
    Edited by 2 at 17/10/06 @ 17:36

  • ChromeMud #52 5 years ago

    So many delusional Sony fanboys here!
    Cost of hardware has a big bearing on what becomes most popular
    and it's ironic that this time round the PS3 is the most expensive.
    The Wii could be it's biggest threat,who knows!

    VHS was cheaper than Betamax but was technicaly inferior.

    Just one examples of where technical superiority at a higher price
    won't guarantee market domination.
    Brand loyalty is another.

    PS3 in 2016...don't make me laugh!If any fanboys think that the CELL will
    be keeping up with PC processors by then,are smoking something they shouldn't.
    The GPU will be one tired old horse by then.It will be like going back to a 3DO
    today which is a sad and lonely place to be.

    A 5 year lifespan is fine by me as most PC gamers update their gear within
    that time and developers always want more power.
    Blu-Ray drives may store 25 gigs or more but it won't help the limitations
    of PS3's processing hardware which will look dated in 5 years time let alone 10.

    Those that think the 360 is showing it's limits already are also delusional
    as developers are finding it hard to push two PC's cores let alone 3 PowerPC
    cores so go back to sleep.I havn't seen anything on the PS3 that the 360
    couldn't do and waving the Blu-Ray flag is the only sad desperate reason
    that Sony fanboys cling onto,to prove that Next Gen begins when Sony says so.
    Microsoft,Sony and Nintendo want your money,but they all want you to enjoy
    their product so that you come back for more.Take your choice based on what they offer,what games you want to play and what you think is worth the cost.
    That's all there is to it!

  • FooAtari #53 5 years ago

    How many people here actually read the comments before posting?

    How many times was it pointed out why this isnt surprising, R&D never stops, yet the amount of posts crying out that the next one will be out in 3 years or whatever.....

    I dont ususually ignore people, well never have. Well done yellowtruck :D

  • miiiguel #54 5 years ago

    Beijing Olympics is crap!!! They're allready working on London 2012!!!
    Edited by 1 at 17/10/06 @ 18:28

  • Xerx3s #55 5 years ago

    *g* Look, the sun rises...

  • Downside #56 5 years ago

    Jeez did developing the ps3 cost Sony SO much that the beancounters won't let them make new one until 2016??? Accountants run businesses like Sony.

    But the Nintendo Poo was the funniest comment, followed by all of Yellowtrucks

  • miiiguel #57 5 years ago

    yellowtruck : guess me and the other 5.5 million 360's owners will have to stop play now that you informed us of that sad news...

    Please do call all the developers allover the world to stop working on 360 projects, now, if you please.

  • Bates #58 5 years ago

    Well, that'll certainly inspire confidence in a currently available product's longevity then.

  • SwedBear #59 5 years ago

    yellowtruck: For fuck sake. If you are going to troll try to come up with something new than repeating yourself. and if you are not trolling - you definitely is the prime example why people should use condoms.

    I definitely hope Sony, Nintendo and MS already have teams thinking on the next generation. It takes time to plan and ultimately build a console. Companies like ATi and NVIDIA always have teams working on far away products, in fact i would guess every hardware company has a R&D department busy working on future products even when their latest product isn't out yet, so why this even warrants a news-item puzzles me.

  • Nippledoctor #60 5 years ago

    @ChromeMud

    "So that you come back for more."

    With or without vaseline?

  • BartonFink #61 5 years ago

    Wow company doing R&D into next iteration of their product.
    What a shocker

    /rolls eyes

    good to see yellowtruck is still truckin with the trollin

  • ChromeMud #62 5 years ago

    @Nippledoctor

    "With or without vaseline? "

    KY Jelly is cheaper but nothing is as cost effective as having a good Wii !

  • Calgon #63 5 years ago

    insane_cobra: Exactly, glad someone mentioned it... Im getting tired of this nonesense, they purposefully left it open for people to wonder rather than clearing up what was meant by it(they knew damn well its just R&D... well atleast the title says "planning", good job that GI.biz editor didnt write it aye? "MS building a next-next generation machine - no point buying a 360 now - they said just after slamming Sony again calling PS3 and blueray shit... bastards!*this article was based loosely on a true story*";). Well we know that EG have a history of backing Sony no matter what(or how early) so its no surprise but they have been getting better I'll admit(afterall this was just something that shouldve been cleared up for those who dont understand).

    Xbox's shorter than usuall lifespan was a one off, it was never going to be profitable enough so it was a wise decision which could well pay off(the launch*except japan* was successfull which shows enough people were ready for it) for them(even though a few gamers like myself would have appreciated another year or so of full Xbox support).

    The Sony fanboys are only commenting here for one thing; (even the ones not quite as obvious as yellowtruck... ;) ) to spread FUD. Do you think ANY console devision even wants to launch before their 5 years is up, do you have any idea how much work and funding that would eat up? The longer the consoles life span is, the more money they make from the games released during that time(this is what every console seller hopes for, despite what Sony Zombies beleive, that is the ONLY reason = more money).
    Edited by 9 at 17/10/06 @ 19:43

  • blender #64 5 years ago

    next xbox has blue ray

  • BartonFink #65 5 years ago

    Well if that turns out to be the industry standard by then, definately why not.

  • spongebob #66 5 years ago

    Next Xbox will probably be Xbox 360 and built-in HD DVD plus hard drive and some other bits and pieces.

    ....just kidding.

    Damn it, of course they're planning Xbox 3. Just like Sony is planning PS4 and Nintendo some holograph system. Doesn't mean they're going to be in the shops before 2010 hits, though.

  • drumbaby #67 5 years ago

    So Xbox 360 support should be ending right about....NOW.

  • IronGiant #68 5 years ago

    The 360 is dead, long live the 360!

  • Drakron #69 5 years ago

    This is not PC gaming.

    The problem with the Xbox was that Microsoft kill it before it matured, Sony is in the long run for a reason, they make money out of development kits and software sales.

    If MS kills the Xbox 360 in 4 years in the same way they did the Xbox they are simply pushing for hardware sales, hardware they are selling at a loss and telling developers they better kill development of Xbox games the moment they see the next Xbox since they are pulling the plug ... notice how Sony does not do that, they happy supported the PS One years after PS2 was released and will do the same.

    MS needs software sales since there is were the money is and that requires the console to be in the market for substancial time ... first 2 years dont really count for much.

    And yes, what he said was very stupid ... its not the time to speak of "next gen" outside of wishful thinking.

  • KillahSouljah #70 5 years ago

    Already thinking of the next Xbox, damn 360 cant be doing that good then, their probaly designing a system to compete with the PLAYSTATION 3 like how the 360 is competing with the PlayStation 2...

    Microsoft give it up, stick to making Blue screens of DEATH.

  • bloodflowers #71 5 years ago

    "We're building the real one now - by now you /must/ have noticed it doesn't really have enough power to move HD pictures smoothly. Lol!"

    At least that's how it feels every time I see another flickbook frame rate.

  • sonsonate #72 5 years ago

    And this is news because?

    I mean, really, at least some people in here know that R&D never stops. Plus, the average console life is about 5yrs...


    I guess 90% of you did not know that they actually plan for the following console -- probably before they even release their current offerings.

    Grow up, people! Oh, wait, most of you are how old? 13-16 and only recall XBOX and PS2's launch? Nevermind then.

  • Pooley #73 5 years ago

    But what would they call it?

    XBox 720?
    XBox 2010?
    NeXtBox?

    It'd be interesting to be a fly-on-the-wall at the concept discussions. I mean there's no point going better than 1080p, because we won't have TV's above that resolution, 7.1 surround is already being done, so where can they introduce new features?

    My feelings at the moment is that the box will use HD-DVD media, because that's the format MS are behind, with a bigger hdd as games will be streamed directly from the 'net. The only other change can surely be a fundamental redesign in the controller concept.

    So, a HD-DVD XBox 360 v2 with a Wii-like controller. Something like that won't take them 4 years to design. In fact, that almost sounds like a PS3.

    /oh boy...

  • Mordum #74 5 years ago

    Not really sure what news we're being informed of here?
    Of course work has begun on the next one, is there anyone out there that would'nt assume this.... it's the same with any company.As has been mentioned, Sony and Nintendo will be doing the same, so I really can't see why people believe this sort of story would hurt Microsoft in any way. Business as usual, nothing to see here... move along.

    As far as lifespans for consoles goes, 5 years suits me just fine, I replace my TV more often (at a higher cost each time I might add). PC gamers upgrade their gaming platforms much more often, so why should the console market sit on their thumbs and use outdated hardware for 10 years.
    Edited by 1 at 18/10/06 @ 00:02

  • saysomething #75 5 years ago

    "I expect Nintendo already has plans for the Poo :)"


    Heh, nice one.

  • Drakron #76 5 years ago

    I mean, really, at least some people in here know that R&D never stops. Plus, the average console life is about 5yrs...

    Of course we know, we know that the DS is not the next GameBoy, Nintendo continues development of it because of the DS success.

    But point is after 1 year of release you sould not be talking about your next machine outside wishful thinking and never say its in development because the market will take it its just around the corner and wait.

    That is why PS3 and Xbox 360 plans were shown late in their console live cycle (well late as in the PS2).

    Another thing is game development cycles are taking longer, what was a 2 years cycle became a 5 year cycle ... take Fable inicial development that started even before the Xbox was released and was only released in the Xbox late live, if 10 years ago they could get away with consoles with a 5 years lifespan, they cannot really do the same now because of the time and costs in game development.

    Sony is being smart with a inicial 10 years plan since they are taking under consideration the current reality of game development, Nintendo can jump at any time because not only they make money out of hardware sales but the Wii is simply a "mid gen", Microsoft would be better to follow Sony and support for the long run since its not the hardware that matters, its the software and the Xbox 360 only have one big flaw compared with the PS3, lacks a build in HD DVD (or Blu-Ray) but even that can be somewhat corrected.

  • Azazel #77 5 years ago

    Oh my god. The Thread That Should Not Be This Way Cometh.

  • NegativeZero #78 5 years ago

    By the time that PS3 is available in the world market (not just USA & Japan) in March next year the X360 will be coming up a year and a half into its lifespan. If they were to plan a new Xbox to hit Christmas 2009, the X360 will be about four years old. PS3 will only be two and a half. This is about the point where X360-exclusives will be harder to fit into the old DVD media, but by that stage the HD-DVD drives will be a reasonable price. This is pretty clearly the reason why MS aren't too worried about Sony having Blu-Ray's extra capacity - by the time it matters, they'll be making their next console anyway.

    MS will once again be the first to market with a more powerful machine, and Sony will again be forced to play catch-up. It's all about initiative - in the PS1 and PS2 generations, Sony has called the shots and everyone else has followed. This generation it's harder to say that, and if MS play their cards right, then next generation it should be them that are dictating the flow of the industry. And when you're in that position, majority market share often tends to come along for the right.

  • viperfoxbat #79 5 years ago

    I think Every 5 years beats the hell out of upgrading my PC every 2-3 years.

  • BartonFink #80 5 years ago

    Sorry Drakon I usually think most of your posts are fairly resonable. But for a major company not to think ahead and at least start some R&D into their next iteration of a product would be absolute madness in the extreme. Do you really think Sony are not looking to the future and looking at what lies ahead.
    I do agree thought that they are far less likely to drop a previous iteration like a hot shite than MS though.

  • Pooley #81 5 years ago

    5 to 6 years between consoles at least allows time for some kind of innovation. A 4 year cycle seems just too short to me.

    Nintendo average 5 years, Sony 6 years, and, so far, MS 4 years.

    So quite soon, MS will be an iteration ahead of Sony and Nintendo. It'll be interesting to see how this pans out...

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #82 5 years ago

    Why does nobody seem to see that Sony's "10 year life cycle" for PS3 just means that they'll keep producing and selling them for 4-5 years after PS4 is out?

  • bauhaus #83 5 years ago

    lets hope the next one does not sound like a hovercraft eh?

  • miiiguel #84 5 years ago

    I still remmeber 6 months after I bought the PSP a very same thread reporting Sony was planning on a new portable.

    Guess you guys are the ones who make the wiser choices, you buy all your device when you're 80 years old, so you get the last thing...

    Pooley: Ms had a console so far, how can you do that metric allready ?


    ...But you Sony-only players, deep down you wish you could get rid of that old box of yours, don't you? ;)
    Edited by 2 at 18/10/06 @ 10:29

  • Nobuo #85 5 years ago

    "My Xbox = a very worthwhile investment thank you, I got my money's worth from it.
    My 360 = A very enjoyable experience thank you, hardly what I would describe as weak."

    Not really what the public saw though was it? In comparison to the competition the originals lifespan was rubbish, and although there's nothing 'wrong' with the 360s hardware, it wasn't quite the upgrade on the original people hoped, and a lot of people predicted a quick transition from the 360 to the next one. Pretty sure 'Xbox 1.5' was the 360 pejorative.

    Like I said, a successor to a product as recent as the 360 is a crap thing to announce for any company, but in conjunction to the current Xbox brand image, it's downright stupid.
    Edited by 1 at 18/10/06 @ 12:48

  • miiiguel #86 5 years ago

    Nobuo : Let us see if PS3 games are going to be oh so much better than 360 ones.
    The main point is are Sony-only players having better games than the more ecletic-players, as of today, and when PS3 comes out (eventually) ?

    And, where did you heard about a successor to the 360 ? care to quote ? or post a link ?

    My personal point of view is I do not need that my 300-400 Eur investement to last 10 years, I earn enough money to buy a new device every 5 years, as matter a fact I prefer to have a new device every 5 years, than restrict myself to have to wait for the company I love more than my mother to invent a new media format.
    Edited by 1 at 18/10/06 @ 14:33

  • miiiguel #87 5 years ago


    360's Blue Dragon bundle sold out in Japan in 5 minutes!

  • Calgon #88 5 years ago

    Nobuo:
    Not really what the public saw though was it? In comparison to the competition the originals lifespan was rubbish*for Nintendo and Sega fans 5 years is the norm, Xbox was cut short by one year because MS it made sense from their point of veiw, 360 on the otherhand will have atleast a 5 year lifespan because it wouldnt make sense not to this time around* , and although there's nothing 'wrong' with the 360s hardware, it wasn't quite the upgrade on the original people hoped, and a lot of people predicted a quick transition from the 360 to the next one. Pretty sure 'Xbox 1.5' was the 360 pejorative.

    Thats just bollocks, replace "public" with "wishfully thinking Sony Fanboys" and its a little bit closer. The Xbox1.5 nonesense came from Sony and it was spread by their little trolls(propaganda), any doubts from sensible consumers were before launch when games were previewed in their unfinnished state(they werent even being developed on final hardware for the most part, Sony devs have had it much easier as far as time is concerned), it was a case of them not being sure who to beleive(Sony are the masters of FUD and hype) MS told people the situation and showed what they had at that time rather than using "target demos" and pre-rendered footage(Nintendo have done the same as MS its a much more honest approach). All of this is behind us now and its quite clear that the 360 is a worthy upgrade from the Xbox not just in hardware but right down to the OS and Live service, its a machine that is more than capable of "the real next-gen" and now the old 1080p arguement is out of the the window, Sony have little else than an optical disk media that holds more space to boast about. Its left their fanboys in need of good arguements to back up the PS3 in the "console wars", perhaps they should concentrate on the games or maybe wait a while - untill they are sure its the right choice for them at the right price?

    Another thing; this wasnt some official announcement he basically said "give us a break, 360 was launched only last year", they were probably asked in an interview specifically about it. Perhaps "we do not wish to comment on that at this time" would have been better? Sony fanboys are desperate lets face it, they would have said: "ooooh that must mean 360 is the last Xbox... MS is teh doomed".

  • Lex_Luthor #89 5 years ago

    "MS told people the situation and showed what they had at that time rather than using "target demos" and pre-rendered footage"

    You mean like that Ghost Recon "footage" that was shown at E3 05?
    Edited by 1 at 18/10/06 @ 20:44

  • sonsonate #90 5 years ago

    @Nobuo

    As I said before, go back to previous launches and you will read similar comments, big whoop. Sony's talking about the PS4 not having a disc drive even, so, what's the big news?

    I still don't understand why this is even news -- who gives a crap? Seriously, I REALLY want to know: where have you been?! In a cave? Haven't you ever noticed how computer technology has a development cycle of about 6 months? Well, consoles also have a cycle that they follow. And if you did not know, well, now you know..


    And knowing is half the battle!

    GI JOE

  • miiiguel #91 5 years ago

    Lex_Luthor : Lex, that's a silly comment, If I may say, you can play Ghost Recon now, if you want... and check the art/graphics for yourself!

  • Ravenlore #92 5 years ago

    Xbox lasted 4... 4 YEARS!! of course they are working on their 3rd Xbox NOW if Xbox 360 does not sell well then Xbox3 will launch in 4 years or at most 5!! They have the money and this is one way to fight Sony.

    Sony will last longet say 6-7 years that is their plan to make back the money they are losing now. Remember that PS2 was a huge investment more so because they developed everything CPU, and GPU. But over its life time it has made back the invested money and more.

    But will MS force them to come out with PS4 ahead of the time that they want??? Who knows??