Microsoft: 360 may not even be at mid-cycle yet

[Zap!]

It's clear that the current console cycle is shaping up to be longer than any previous, as major platform holders Sony and Microsoft get ready to roll out motion control tech they hope will extend the lifecycle.

Sony's known for having always expressed its commitment to the long-haul, shooting for the same ten-year lifecycle for the PlayStation 3 that it saw with the PlayStation 2. Now Microsoft is now more boldly asserting its commitment to the Xbox 360 for as far as the eye can presently see, in new comments from CES reported by the UK Guardian.

"I think it's important to say that the Xbox 360 is the console of the long future for us," senior director of Xbox product management David Hufford said. "There is no need to launch a new console, because we're able to give this console new life either with software upgrades or hardware upgrades like Project Natal."

"The Xbox 360 was designed for a long life, and I don't even know if we're at the midpoint yet," Hufford added -- noting that the company had no plans to enhance or update the Xbox 360 with the kind of hardware streamline that benefited Sony with its less-expensive PS3 Slim.

"We love our prices right now," said Hufford. "I don't want to say that technology stops, but...we think we're in a good place now heading into the Natal era."

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/26757/Microsoft_Xbox_360_May_Not_Even_Be_At_MidCycle_Yet .php

[TonyTheTiger]

I think it's possible but unlikely. So long as Sony, MS, and Nintendo are all willing to let things go for as long as they can then I don't see why this generation has to come to a close in the immediate future. But in a situation like that there's a really good incentive to defect because capturing the flag of "next gen" early can be a big help, especially if you know the competition is sitting on their hands. And the second one of them shows off something new the arms race will start again.

[Swamperon]

Meh, give it 2 years and we'll see a Natal/360 combo. Providing it sells well of course.

[Leo_A]

Meh, give it 2 years and we'll see a Natal/360 combo. Providing it sells well of course.

Bundling in an accessory with your console isn't a new console, it's just a new SKU.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a Xbox 360 package this Fall that includes the Natal add-on.

[Gapporin]

Good thing for me to hear. I just got a 360 not too long ago and its the first time I've ever been within a current gaming generation cycle (no, I'm not kidding).

[monkeychemist]

The Xbox 360 was designed for a long life, and I don't even know if we're at the midpoint yet," Hufford added

hahahahahahahha designed for a long life??? tell that to the millions of victims of the RROD!

[Oobgarm]

hahahahahahahha designed for a long life??? tell that to the millions of victims of the RROD!

I think he means the marketplace life of the system as a viable game-playing device, not the reliability of the units themselves.

All I see for next-gen across the board are add-ons to the current machines to add more interactivity and perceived depth. Natal, motion control, et al.

[kedawa]

no plans to enhance or update the Xbox 360 with the kind of hardware streamline that benefited Sony with its less-expensive PS3 Slim
So they're going to continue making defective hardware for another five years?
Instead of fixing what's broken, they're going to ruin the platform with gimmicky shit. Wonderful plan.

[s1lence]

So they're going to continue making defective hardware for another five years?
Instead of fixing what's broken, they're going to ruin the platform with gimmicky shit. Wonderful plan.

Actually the systems keep getting updated. The newest ones have a smaller power supply and I have yet to hear of a failure on those systems, if it was happening I'm sure DP would have 30 threads documenting it. I do agree though, Natal = Gimmick.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

This is good news. Hopefully the hardware will get even cheaper.

[Nature Boy]

Meh, give it 2 years and we'll see a Natal/360 combo. Providing it sells well of course.

Considering they've announced that Natal will be released in Q4 of 2010, I think we'll see that this year.

[WCP]

If Microsoft is really serious about being at barely the half-way point, then they definitely need to design a 360 slim that is as quiet as a PS3.

[TonyTheTiger]

I feel the same way. If not for the actual benefit of a slim redesign then at least for the placebo effect of being able to put the entire RROD issue behind them. So long as the 360 looks like the 360 then the RROD issue will never really go away. Even if new models prove to be flawless, the mere fact that they look like models that do get the RROD will mean that the public won't "get it" in regards to the superior build quality. MS needs to come out with a complete redesign to be able to say "yeah, it's fine now" and have everybody believe them.

[monkeychemist]

the public won't "get it" in regards to the superior build quality.

Don't worry about that..the public doesn't get it that it's a crap machine doomed to fail. Who here isn't on their 5th or 6th X360??

[Rickstilwell1]

If this console cycle lasts that long, I'd guess that the same thing will happen as last gen. People who only had one system will get bored of having just one and go buy the others to go alongside it. I'm already starting to see friends do that.

Some people get the urge for something new after along enough.

[backguard]

Don't worry about that..the public doesn't get it that it's a crap machine doomed to fail. Who here isn't on their 5th or 6th X360??

I'm not on my first for that very reason. :) plus i'm a ps3 fanboy ;)

[j_factor]

2000, Sega: "The Dreamcast isn't going anywhere anytime soon."
2004, Nintendo: "The DS is not a replacement for the Game Boy Advance."
2010, Microsoft: "360 may not even be at mid-cycle yet."

Forgive me for being a cynic.

[Richter Belmount]

Okay wouldnt stop microsoft from making a new console , the 360 was a surprise when the xbox was still going strong.

[Nature Boy]

the 360 was a surprise when the xbox was still going strong.

Not when you think that they lost a *lot* of money on the original Xbox, and always considered it the stepping stone to their second console, which had to make money (and has I assume).

[Zap!]

The 360 is beyond mid cycle. It will be out 5 years this November. Does anyone truly believe MS is going to wait until 2015 or longer to release a new console? Never gonna happen.

[megasdkirby]

A new console is already in the works for each individual company. They are just waiting to unveil it when the time is right.

Right now, there is just no need for a new console. They can milk this generation quite well...and for a very long time.

[Nebagram]

All I hear is business-ese for 'The Xbox 720 will be out 2012 at the latest but we want you to think otherwise so you'll keep buying the 360'.

Okay, the 360 still has some life left in it (and before you ask, I'm on my third from launch) but it gained a lot of momentum from being first to market this time out- something Microsoft may be looking to capitalise on next time. I may be a bit hasty with my 2012 guess but the 8th generation will start well before 2015 and will start with the next Xbox, you mark my words.

[exit]

While I do agree that a new console is unneeded for quite some time, I highly doubt that any of them will hesitate at announcing a new console within the next 2 years and releasing a new one within 3.

[The 1 2 P]

Considering they've announced that Natal will be released in Q4 of 2010, I think we'll see that this year.

There was an announcement made that Natal would launch both with a 360 bundle and sold seperately to work with all existing 360 consoles. I can't remember if that was an official announcement or just quoted from a Microsoft exec interview.


Don't worry about that..the public doesn't get it that it's a crap machine doomed to fail. Who here isn't on their 5th or 6th X360??

I'm not on my fifth or sixth 360.....I'm on my fourth.

All kidding aside, I also think that they need to redesign the system. I don't seem to notice the noise it makes as much as other people, but this is due to me saving every game to the hard drive that I'm currently playing(120 gb FTW). And I don't even need to mention the reliability issues. My system is now a year old and runs like new but not everyone has been that lucky. I'm actually surprised that we haven't seen some sort of 360 lite/slim by now since this is it's 5th year as of November. Maybe they'll surprise us at one of the industry trade shows.

[Ed Oscuro]

Lol, by coincidence I brought this up with somebody just a few hours ago and somebody told me that he had just heard a rumor about Microsoft developing a new system. Well, close. I haven't been following the news, so good deal @ me for realizing Microsoft was overdue for a talk.

I'm sure Sony and especially Nintendo will be pleased as Microsoft could have forced Sony to move to new hardware if they had. Of course, getting the hardware affordable ultimately turned out to be a bigger problem for Microsoft than Sony, so they would have needed an ace up their sleeve to really trump Sony's technology (who owns Blu-Ray, again?).

Remember how everybody laughed, and laughed, and laughed at Ken Kutaragi for his "The PlayStation 3 has been designed to serve for ten years" prediction? Maybe he should've been out short-selling stocks instead, but in any case he turned out to be closer to correct than people had expected. Doubtless he didn't predict the financial meltdown. Probably he just saw how long and expensive the development process was and realized it couldn't be kept up on the traditional 5-year timeframe without killing off the profits needed to keep the cycle going.

While I would like to see a new gen of consoles, most people aren't seeing the need for it, and studios would have to spend even more money getting the most out of new hardware. Of course, aside from computer monitors we don't have anything in my place that is close to taking full advantage of the 360's resolution to begin with.

So they're going to continue making defective hardware for another five years?
Instead of fixing what's broken, they're going to ruin the platform with gimmicky shit. Wonderful plan.
Kedawa's post makes sense if you imagine he's a journalist from bizarro world where you report the news in reverse. Yeah, the 360 was broken at start, but they are constantly releasing newer versions of the system that perform the same but cooler due to newer manufacturing processes. Like you can buy a Core i5 for what used to be a Core 2 Duo or Pentium IV, you can also do the same amount of work cheaper than before.

[duffmanth]

hahahahahahahha designed for a long life??? tell that to the millions of victims of the RROD!

LOL, I second that! I think the 360 is probably past its halfway point, but I think MS will keep supporting it for a few more years at least. They left a real bad taste in gamer's mouths when they stopped making the Xbox and dropped all support for it instantly after only 4 years all in an effort to rush the 360 to market just to get a year head start on Sony. Good job morons!

Like I mentioned in earlier posts though, this console gen will probably last longer than previous ones through software updates and hardware additions. People are too heavily invested in this current generation of gaming, so there's no way a new batch of consoles will be launching any time soon.

[Ed Oscuro]

People are too heavily invested in this current generation of gaming,
They are broke and out of work, you mean.

[duffmanth]

They are broke and out of work, you mean.

Haha, yeah that to I suppose!

[monkeychemist]

A thought came to me from the other thread entitled PS3 vs X360... Many people there were saying the PS3 games are the same or often worse in terms of graphics and refresh rates due to being dumbed down to X360 specs/DVD. Maybe if MS makes a new console in twenty twelve then PS3 will be able to keep up with this new console. That would be hilarious... Ok, I'm done being a PS3 fanboy now :)