Microsoft has officially nuked all rumors that point to a 2012 release of its next-generation Xbox console.
News that Microsoft's upcoming next-generation Xbox not arriving in 2012 has been a no-brainer for a while now, especially after learning that software studios -- whether it's for gaming or other multimedia applications -- won't even receive development kits (SDKs) until April. But now a Microsoft executive has stepped forward to resolve any lingering rumors that gamers may see the entertainment system by the 2012 holiday season.
In short, nothing new this year.
"We’re in an industry that talks a lot, that likes to tell stories," said Cedrick Delmax, marketing director of Microsoft France, during an interview with LePoint.Fr. "I am not convinced things will happen this year. Xbox 360′s cycle is not at all finished. The proof is that we don’t see the logic in cutting the price this year. E3 is still premature. What’s certain is that there will be nothing new in 2012."
Delmax added that Microsoft doesn't plan to make any "hasty moves" to counter Nintendo's Holiday 2012 release of the upcoming Wii U console. "We’re not here to counter Nintendo and they’re not here to fight the other manufacturers," he said. "Nintendo has put itself in a different cycle, they’re advancing at their own pace."
Nintendo will reportedly re-introduce the Wii U this June at E3 2012 sporting new features that have been implemented since its last showing. The company is also expected to fully explain the details surrounding its new Nintendo Network which will support both the Wii U and the 3DS handheld. Microsoft, on the other hand, isn't expected to show its Xbox 720 this year despite various rumors, but to make a full disclosure during the 2013 event.
And what about Sony? Last we heard, the company was likely not to join the next-generation console war, choosing to ride out the PlayStation 3 wave instead. In a separate LePoint.fr interview, PlayStation France boss Philippe Cardone admitted that Sony will be the last to announce anything console-related.
"It’s true that there are a lot of rumors, but I couldn’t tell you anything," Cardone said. "Wii is pressed for time because it’s in decline. In our case, we have a lot less pressure. We were the last to release PS3, and we will probably be the last to announce something."
/sarcasm
/sarcasm
the sooner they get the next gen consoles out the sooner we can utilize the hardware we buy for our builds.
i'm still rocking a gtx460
They are surely aware the Wii U will have some impact. It's going to be faster, made by a better company, probably more innovative, and will have a broader audience to get upgrades from. Xbox 360 sells because it's better hardware, but when it's not, and is visibly dated, it's got to have an impact.
Maybe not 2012, but it's got to be soon after, or their sales will dry up, regardless of whether they think Nintendo is a competitor or not.
FTFY
1) Witcher 2. Made for PC, great unique gameplay, great graphics, good story.
2) Battlefield 3 - great graphics.
3) Space Marine and Dawn of War - Warhammer 40K and entertaining gameplay.
4) Mass Effect 1/2 - great story, great gameplay, a unique interactive storytelling game
5) Skyrim - enough said
6) Just Cause 2 - Just Great.
Right now, the only thing I'm looking forward to playing is Mass Effect 3 (and moar Skyrim). I don't even want to buy a second 560 Ti despite having the money for it - why would I? 90% of the games that are coming out nowadays are complete junk, not worthy of even being mentioned. They'll have to come up with something worth buying either because of amazing graphics or amazing gameplay with okay (console-level) graphics. In the first case, they'll have to shift to PC and in the second, it doesn't matter if the graphics hang on the console level for a bit more... they can always follow BF3 way and develop for PC then port to console so that everyone is happy.
I'm REALLY wondering why the hell isn't anyone trying to resurrect old franchises like Redline, Populous or Dungeon Keeper. Made with modern graphics, those would sell SO well!
Sony used to be the king of consoles ... Then ...
... they took an arrow to the knee?
after all who wants to pay 600 for hardware thats already or soon to be dated?
Games consoles are controlling our destiny. It used to be the other way around. We are giving power to companies that want to STOP the sale of used games, or force their users to sign a license agreement wavering their right to take legal action. I still can't get over the fact you have to pay a monthly subscription to Microsoft just to play games over the internet.
I'll probably get rated down for this but come on, am I the only one who hates consoles?
Like Dr.Evil use to say - Console is semi-gaming. Console is quasi-gaming. Console is the margarine of gaming. Console is the Diet Coke of Gaming. Console is just one calorie - Not gaming gfx enough.
Well, a rift is starting to take place. Hopefully we can get some PC exclusive titles from devs bored with the current gen consoles limitations.
Its funny to look back at my GPU ownership history...
8800GT -> GTX 9800 -> GTX 260 -> GTX 470 -> GTX 580
Meanwhile in console land.
8800GT.... still 8800GT
Lets take BF3.
My PC (2500K/580) run the game at 120FPS (with a 120hz mon) at 1920*1080
A console does it at 30FPS at 1280*720
PC
1980*1080= 2,073,600
2,073,600*120= 248,832,000 pixel/s
Xbox
1280*720= 921,600
921,600*30= 27,648,000 pixel/s
Thus a console pumps out 11.1% of what my PC does. Or, my PC is 9x faster than a Xbox.