Tuesday May 21, 2024

Xbox 360 will have a long life

Microsoft aren't interested in releasing a new console anytime soon, rather they will be using things like Project Natal to extend the lifetime of the Xbox 360

Posted on Jan 9, 2010 - 6:27am EST

Microsoft has talked with Guardian.co.uk and explained how they aren't inerested in a new Xbox console anytime soon. In fact the current position is that the 360 might be closer to the mid point of it's lifecycle.

The Xbox 360 was released back in November 2005 making the console currently over 4 years old. If this is truly the midpoint we may not see another Xbox console until 2013 or later!

They intend to extend the lifetime of the current console with "upgrades" which include the much hyped "Project Natal" that will be coming 2010. Of course it does indeed make no sense to release a big project like Natal in 2010 and release another console the following year unless Natal proves a poor seller.

"I think it's important to say that the Xbox 360 is the console of the long future for us. 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," said David Hufford, senior director of Xbox product management in a briefing at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. "The Xbox 360 was designed for a long life, and I don't even know if we're at the midpoint yet."

To put this possible 8 year console cycle in perspective. The original Xbox was released in North America November 2001, just four years prior to the Xbox 360. Could this be an indication that computer hardware advances are slowing? Or just a matter of good business practice because of the monetary loss taken from selling new console hardware in the early stages of the lifecycle?

Now it will be all about accessory, game and "project" sales that hopefully will stretch the console age out to 2013 and increase profits for Microsoft.