Microsoft: No Xbox 720 forthcoming – 360, Wii, and PS3 here to stay
Us gamers are a strange bunch – no sooner have we been gifted the joy of a new console, we’ll start thinking about what delights the next one could hold. But it seems as if our next-gen dreams will have to be put on hold for a few years as Microsoft is publicly stating that the Xbox 360 is going to be around for a long while yet, and the PS3 and Wii along with it.
This current generation of video game consoles is one of my favorite ever. All three home systems have lots going for them, and there’s a degree of variety that has been seen in no other generation to date. It’s fair to say that I’m loving the current crop of games consoles (for different reasons and in different situations) at the moment and I actually don’t want this generation to end anytime soon.
But that doesn’t stop me speculating about the next-gen consoles: what form they’ll take; the features they’ll have; the control systems they’ll use; and whether graphics will still be the ultimate measuring stick.
I’ve suggested in the past that all three current home console manufacturers could jump to the next-gen first. Sony if the PS3 carries on selling poorly, Nintendo if sales of the Wii are suddenly exhausted, and Microsoft if the Xbox 360 reaches the limits of its capabilities. But I could be wrong on all counts as Microsoft is claiming this generation is likely to drag on for a while yet.
In an interview with The San Jose Mercury News, Robbie Bach, the president of Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices division explained:
Just coming up with something that’s faster and prettier isn’t going to be sufficient. The life cycle for this generation of consoles — and I’m not just talking about Xbox, I’d include Wii and PS3 as well — is probably going to be a little longer than previous generations.
When you look at consumers, they are going to be more value-conscious. We want to make sure that as the economy does start to recover, that we’re positioned well.
Bach clearly has his head screwed on correctly because I’d have to agree with all his comments. Which isn’t something I make a habit of.
The last few generations have seen the companies involved almost solely concentrating on producing consoles capable of prettier, more lifelike graphics and not much else. And that was correct and welcome to a certain degree because otherwise we wouldn’t have games that look as good as Gears of War 2 or Metal Gear Solid 4. But Nintendo has shown there are alternatives. Sony and Microsoft aren’t going to ignore the sales figures Nintendo is currently achieving.
As for the length of the current-gen, I’ve had an inkling for a while that it will last longer than most of us think, and Bach has confirmed that thought in my head. I still think Nintendo will be first to blink, even if the Wii has already won this generation quite convincingly. But Sony and Microsoft won’t risk premature ejaculation this time around.
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34 Responses to “Microsoft: No Xbox 720 forthcoming – 360, Wii, and PS3 here to stay”
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January 12th, 2009
“This current generation of video game consoles is one of my favorite ever.”
Really?
I don’t think it’s a patch on a last generation. The “degree of variety” is more unappealing to me. Last gen it was PS2 or nothing. It had the best games; and pretty much every gamer had one. You could take round games and memory cards to a friends house, virtually secure in the knowledge that they’d have a PS2.
But now it’s all change. People have different systems.
Nintendo is always going to do well no matter what…that’s a given. The battle between Sony and MS though feels different.
Both Sony and Microsoft seem to be developing the same experiences; online gaming; online stores; online video content etc. To be honest, the duel between MS and Sony this gen feels a bit like Blu-Ray v HD-DVD. Both companies are desperate for exclusive studio support to tip the balance in their favour.
I just don’t see the two systems co-existing together next gen.
January 13th, 2009
yep, I was expecting Sony would have a better “degree of variety” by now as well with the PS3. At least the 360 has taken up the ball and is running with it. Not so good if you were expecting the PS3 to do a repeat performance of the PS2, I imagine. At least Sony is making the effort to develop an equivalent experience with the 360’s achievements, gamerscore, and other online capabilities. Not sure if Sony’s inner studios will be enough to catch up to MS’s third party support though.
January 13th, 2009
Even though 360 is planned to be around for awhile, it looks as though 2011 is still likely for the next gen consoles.
January 13th, 2009
this is a patch generation… if you fuck up in the real game… you can just patch it later… if you want to make more money… hold back your levels and then release them as DLC…
fucking ridiculous…
January 13th, 2009
The numbers don’t lie gentlemen. By your logic… I can compare the PS2 to the 360s sales, and say the 360 is a total failure. Better luck next time guys. Perhaps M$ will be the one to end this charade. They have no business trying to build consoles. The massive amount of RRODs and discs that have been scratched don’t lie either.
360 now has an 8 million unit lead on the PS3 worldwide, with 28 million 360s and 20 million PS3s in the wild
360 – 3 years – 9.33 for each year
PS3 – 2 Years – 10 for each year
January 13th, 2009
I think Nintendo is going to be first. They have lots of money for R&D. MS and Sony are probably working on the next gen but are taking it slow.
Barnabe Jones, What’s the Wii sales? LOL
I’m happy with Wii for my kids and PS3 for me.
January 13th, 2009
The Wii sold 3.5 million in the month of December 2008 alone…
I’m having a hard time finding a current count. Doe anyone know?
January 13th, 2009
Yes Barnabe, by your logic you should be comparing the PS2 sales to Wii sales (both the market leaders for their generation). Better luck next time guy. We’ve been through this once before, but here is a refresher. At that rate which you keep on quoting, the PS3 would not catch up to 360 until 2021 in total sales, so it doesn’t matter. Knowing they will not last that long and both are planned to last for the better part of a decade, PS3 still wouldn’t catch up until after the 360 stops production. Give it up.
January 13th, 2009
I look at those numbers simply as a rate of success. If anyone here wants to say the 360 is successful, they have also acknowledge that the ps3 is too. It also manages to do that at a higher price.
January 13th, 2009
Well yeah the Wii is a failure, but for different reasons entirely…
My main sticking point in the argument is: comparing the consoles sales vs. years on the market. The original Xbox was abandoned ions ago, I can only imagine M$ would love to cut the cord on the 360 and run from having to fulfill all of those repair warranties. Also Blu-ray will give the PS3’s life extra time… so when all is said and done, the PS3 will win second place.
January 13th, 2009
Jesus would buy a PS3. That is all that matters.
January 13th, 2009
Chuck Norris owns one also.
In the beginning there was nothing…then Chuck Norris Roundhouse kicked that nothing in the face and said “Get a job”. That is the story of the universe.
January 13th, 2009
phranctoast, I’d agree that the PS3 is a success given its high price point.
The worry for Sony will be that if it reduces its price but it doesn’t sell in any higher quantities than it is now.
And given that when Sony do drop their price, MS will instantly do the same.
I reckon Sony are planning a slim PS3 (with 45nm chips, as is predicted to happen this year) with Gran Turismo 5 in time for Christmas (release which has has been hinted at by Sony exec).
God of War 3, Heavy Rain, ICO 3, KZ2, Uncharted, etc, won’t deliver any returns or sales like Gran Turismo 5 has the potential to. It is the highest selling exclusive franchise that PlayStation has ever had.
God or War 3 seems to be hyped to eternity, and I’m more guilty than anyone at hyping it, but the franchise it certainly not a huge blockbuster success in terms of sales. Sony will need to do epic marketing on God or War 3 to get solid returns.
I keep saying it, but it is all about GT5. And if GT5 fails to ignite sales, Sony may as well move on to the PS4, or pack it all in.
January 13th, 2009
Barnabe Jones,
Comparing consoles vs. years on the market doesn’t matter when the bottom line is how many have been sold to date, and how much more software can be sold on the one with millions more consoles. As long as Microsoft has more 360’s and titles on the market, they will sell more software than PS3. The PS3 is about 84 titles behind right now. Do you really think Microsoft is just going to lay down and let Sony take the lead? Please. You should just stick with saying “I wish Microsoft would cut the cord on 360 because I really want to see PS3 win.”
January 13th, 2009
The original Xbox and PS2 where both DVD format and the PS2 is still living on to this day… GameStop won’t even buy/sell the original xbox games anymore. I happened to notice they still devote about one fifth of there space to the PS2.
Now we have the 360 (DVD) and the PS3 (Blu-ray). In the end only time will tell, but I have a pretty good feeling about this one.
January 13th, 2009
Ive forgotten bout kratos… I dont love him anymore… Killzone 2 is my new mistress…
its because I highly doubt that GoW 3 will be released on 09… I hope it is… but its still doubtful…
but carl… those 84 titles you speak of… do they still matter?? how many people have bought EVERY single video game for their PS3 or 360??
even great games such as PGR and Forza arent the most played games on LIVE… people still play those 3 to 4 games which the console is famous for…
so far R2 and LBP should be enough exclusives…. you still have COD 4 and 5 and Killzone 2 isnt far away…
January 13th, 2009
GameStop doesn’t buy/sell the original XBox games anymore because the original XBox is no longer being produced. The PS2 is still living on to this day because it has the largest library of quality games, it is the cheapest of the consoles, and it has the most consoles in the market (the PS3 has none of these traits, let alone all of them). That’s why I bought one instead of a PS3, and probably why other people still do as well.
Now we do have the 360 (DVD) and the PS3 (Blu-ray). Only one of those formats is still dominant, and will be for years to come (hint: it is not Blu-ray). Both are quietly being supplanted with downloads, HD and SD, and these will only increase in the future.
You have a pretty good feeling about this one (the format war), and so did Sony. Fortunately for them, they won the format war against HD-DVD, unfortunately for them, things are not going according to their plan, and they have yet to win the format war against DVD, let alone downloads in the future. Time is usually not kind in letting a technology maintain it’s primacy for very long, and those periods only grow shorter as time moves on.
January 13th, 2009
Time will tell for DVD and Blu-Ray. But surely given that the PS2 is still selling — 12,000 last week in Japan — and still using DVD even after all this time, the 360 will surely be able to carry on for a bit yet.
But one thing does confuse me though. Microsoft has talked a lot about Digital Distribution, and our friend Aaron Greenberg was asked:
“Speaking of The Dark Knight, it has obviously been the landmark Blu-Ray that people are looking at as the beginning of Blu-Ray’s acceptance into the mainstream. How have The Dark Knight sales been on Video Marketplace?”
Greenberg said: “Digital distribution is the most convenient, and probably the best value versus having to spend 30 bucks on a disc. We’ve invested heavily in digital distribution as a platform and we believe that is where the we see the future of content”
Okay.
But then later on when asked:
“What about digital distribution for games even above the Arcade games? On the PlayStation 3 you can download a game like Grand Turismo 5: Prologue or SOCOM. You can get a full game. Are there plans to start offering a service like this for full Xbox 360 titles?”
He said that…”I personally still like going in to retail, buying the box, having the disc”
So which is it?
Blu-Ray will have more of an impact in the gaming industry than in the film industry.
Dan & Sam Houser of Rockstar have already commented on limitation of DVD for 360, and I think that given that this generation of consoles is predicted to be longer, over a couple of years I think we will see the advantage of Blu-Ray over DVD.
I’m not at all convinced that Digital Downloading is the future any time soon. I got broadband at my home 4 years ago at 1.5mb….four years later……it’s still at 1.5 mb.
Networks need one fuck of an upgrade — and fast — before DD becomes anywhere near usable.
January 13th, 2009
“usable” is the wrong word. Ubiquitous is more apt.
January 13th, 2009
Nicely said Lock. I think you know my opinion of Mr Greenburg… You did a spectacular job of calling him out on his BS.
January 13th, 2009
BOL @ ‘calling him out’. I am sure he reads a pissy little website which has the same 10 guys commenting on every article.
January 13th, 2009
Perhaps, but good points nonetheless.
January 13th, 2009
I was tempted then to change my name to Mr Greenburg and say something funny…
…but it probably wouldn’t of been that funny. And Blorge would of brought down the mighty hammer on me.
January 14th, 2009
Very good points indeed.
Unfortunately for Sony, Japan is not the world. But surely given that the 360 is managing to sell well more than PS3 worldwide with only DVD and HD download capability, PS3 will surely be able to carry on for a bit yet (it is the bestselling Blu-Ray player after all).
To clear up your confusion, Mr. Greenberg seems to be mentioning his “personal” preference for movies being downloadable, and games still being in disc format for it, not by default for the next generation, let alone this one. I could be wrong, so maybe you could post the link to the original interview for discussion so it is not taken out of context (which usually happens the first time it is quoted to help support an opinion).
Obviously XBLA and XBox Originals are still doing very well in comparison to PSN (how many PS2 titles are on the PS3 btw?), so it seems Microsoft is trying to incrementally develop it’s service, while Sony still can’t work out backwards compatibility on it’s “technologically superior” console.
“Backwards compatibility, as you know from PlayStation One and PlayStation 2, is a core value of what we believe we should offer. And access to the library of content people have created, bought for themselves, and accumulated over the years is necessary to create a format. PlayStation is a format meaning that it transcends many devices — PSOne, PS2, and now PS3. If the developer wrote the game according to our technical requirements checklist, we will have what we believe will be almost perfect backwards compatibility. There will be some exceptions, there always are, but we believe those will be very few and far between. Even less so than we saw from PSOne to PS2.” (Phil Harrison, President, Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, 5/12/06)
“But then later on when asked” we hear it is “too expensive” to include.
“So which is it?”
“Blu-Ray will have more of an impact in the gaming industry than in the film industry.” That isn’t really saying very much considering the little impact it has had on the film industry, let alone the gaming industry so far. “over a couple of years I think we will see the advantage of Blu-Ray over DVD” was being said a couple of years ago. Maybe someday. I am more convinced that digital downloading is the future (especially long term) than Blu-Ray, especially considering the relative popularity of downloading at this time over existing networks (your home seems to be behind the times at 1.5mb, so it does need an upgrade).
Blu-ray disc players and discs need to come down in price – and fast – (let alone PS3’s) before Blu-Ray comes anywhere near being ubiquitous.
January 14th, 2009
“your home seems to be behind the times at 1.5mb, so it does need an upgrade”
You’re right, it does. Wait a minute while I pick up my house and move it closer to the exchange so I can get a better speed. Oh, I know, even better; I’ll ring up BT and ask them to tear up the ground and lay down a fibre cable just for me. Should only cost me a few thousand quid.
I don’t know whether you were making an astute observation Carl, or suggesting I do something about it. If you were suggesting the latter, then there is nothing I can do. My throughput speed is the best my line can receive.
Speeds like mine are a reality for many across the UK. Some parts of rural areas can not even receive the internet at all.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2996227.stm
Five years later…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7783538.stm
It has improved, but only slightly.
Amusing clip:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7435800.stm
The average speed in the UK is about 3.6mb.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7817748.stm
Given that BT is private and no longer nationalised thanks to Thatcherism, they are under no obligation to upgrade networks.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2253928.stm
BT are though pledging to upgrade networks in the UK…to ADSL2+, which, already, is far outdated technology. Even then, it will not be implemented in my area until 2011. And furthermore, given how far away I am from the exchange, the deterioration on the signal will be horrendous; and the benefits will likely be negligible.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7376173.stm
And with respect, “relative popularity of downloading at this time over existing networks” is not the same as ubiquity itself. Said “relative popularity” is popular amongst tech savvy enthusiasts; and not the vast majority of consumers.
I enjoy downloading various content over my network; but 100% digital distribution? No way. I would have to wait days for all downloads and continuing downloads to finish.
And as you will have seen from the links I have provided, the UK is in a plotless mess broadband wise.
If it will take until 2011 to complete an “upgrade” to ADSL2+, God knows how long it will be before the UK receives an internet structure that is capable of handling the ubiquity of digital distribution.
January 14th, 2009
Actually all models of the PS3 can play PS one titles. There are also a handful of PS one games up on the store. From what I’ve read Japan has a ton of PS one games that will be making there way to EU and the US soon.
I agree that backwards compatibility with the PS2 would have been ideal, but Sony had to make some cuts to keep the price of the console down. People already do not understand the value of the PS3; they only look as far as the price tag on the shelf.
I proudly keep my PS2 in my entertainment system and wired into the TV and receiver. It’s really not any inconvenience at all. It’s merely a matter of switching the inputs on the TV and receiver.
January 14th, 2009
darkwhitehair,
“but carl… those 84 titles you speak of… do they still matter?? how many people have bought EVERY single video game for their PS3 or 360??”
In a word, yes. Buying every single video game isn’t as important as being able to play the most quality titles available on your console of choice, whether that be renting or buying. 84 titles leaves a lot more room to play than being on the opposite side. Especially when you consider not every person enjoys every genre or style of game, so it leaves them more choices.
January 14th, 2009
For instance, because my favorite genre is RPG, I get to enjoy 11 high rated titles on the 360 vice just the 5 on PS3. Action Adventure 12 instead of 6, Strategy 10 instead of just 5, etc. for whichever gamers favorite genre(s).
January 14th, 2009
“Your comment is awaiting moderation.” – damn it Dave what up with this latley?
Actually all models of the PS3 can play PS one titles. There are also a handful of PS one games up on the store. From what I’ve read Japan has a ton of PS one games that will be making there way to EU and the US soon.
I agree that backwards compatibility with the PS2 would have been ideal, but Sony had to make some cuts to keep the price of the console down. People already do not understand the value of the PS3; they only look as far as the price tag on the shelf.
I proudly keep my PS2 in my entertainment system and wired into the TV and receiver. It’s really not any inconvenience at all. It’s merely a matter of switching the inputs on the TV and receiver.
January 14th, 2009
People already understand that the primary value of the PS3 is Blu-Ray and they do not need it. It is a nice to have in a game console.
Never said it was an inconvenience to keep a PS2 in an entertainment system, just that they went back on their promise. It would be about as much of an inconvenience as me having to switch out a DVD on the very few games that need more than one.
January 14th, 2009
Well I would wager that nearly all PS3 owners have a PS2 anyway. I would have to guess that the lack of backwards compatibility is partially responsible for help keeping PS2 sales so strong.
I would be surprised if we don’t see backwards compatibility come in a future firmware update. At the very least, we’ll see PS2 games up on the store.
January 14th, 2009
I really don’t understand this constant ragging on the no BC. With, what is the number now, 140 million PS2s sold, why is BC so important. I’m sure everyone who owns a PS3 has a PS2, or at least most do. Taking out the BC decreased the price of the PS3 by $100 u.s. What does a new PS2 cost? $130 u.s. I guess what I’m saying is if you don’t have a PS2 and it is that important to you, spend the extra 30 bucks. Or if it was that important you should have got off your arse and went and bought a 60 gig when they announced they were discontinuing them. That’s what I did.
January 14th, 2009
Another good way to look at it…
Wii – $250 – a hand full of good games.
PS2 – $130 – The greatest game library of all time.
Also the Wii’s graphics and sound compatibles are maybe a tiny bit better than the PS2. The PS2 also can double as a DVD player.
January 14th, 2009
Never said “nearly all PS3 owners” didn’t have a PS2, just that Sony went back on their promise. I would venture your guess on Sony profits does explain it. And PS2 games on PSN without bc would only further Sony profit.
With “140 million PS2s sold”, BC might be important to some who purchase software for it and do not expect it to last as long as PS3, but I could be wrong. It might matter to some that Sony is doing the exact opposite of what they promised they would do, but I could be wrong. You mean spend the extra $130 w/o tax instead of 30, right Wylie? I am not sure gamers everywhere jump at buying a console when they are being discontinued because of a newer model, but I could be wrong. Good for you, though.