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/2...dCycle_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.