Microsoft Working on Next Console.

[Rodster]

Surprise, surprise. Let's hope it's more reliable than the 360.

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=68767

Microsoft EMEA veep Chris Lewis says the company is already working on its next next-generation console because "we have to".

Preliminary work is already under way, he told UK games site Kikizo.

"You can't sit back on your laurels in this business - the consumer won't let you, the developers certainly won't let us. So that's happening right now," he said.

The research and development practices of the console division are "no different than any other part of Microsoft" though, he insisted.
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The news that Microsoft is already working on an Xbox 360 successor won't come as much surprise, mind - having been last to market with its first Xbox, the company was first to market in the next generation.

"You'll see more over time - certainly we're not talking about the next version yet," Lewis added, continuing to not talk about it, "so give us a chance to catch a breath, will you?"

[bkfount]

Re: Microsoft Working on Next Console.

Surprise, surprise. Let's hope it's more reliable than the 360.

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=68767

Microsoft EMEA veep Chris Lewis says the company is already working on its next next-generation console because "we have to".

Preliminary work is already under way, he told UK games site Kikizo.

"You can't sit back on your laurels in this business - the consumer won't let you, the developers certainly won't let us. So that's happening right now," he said.

The research and development practices of the console division are "no different than any other part of Microsoft" though, he insisted.
Advertisement

The news that Microsoft is already working on an Xbox 360 successor won't come as much surprise, mind - having been last to market with its first Xbox, the company was first to market in the next generation.

"You'll see more over time - certainly we're not talking about the next version yet," Lewis added, continuing to not talk about it, "so give us a chance to catch a breath, will you?"

shouldn't they focus more on finding ways to make the 360 more reliable, cheaper to manufacture, more compact, etc?

[born_bad]

Re: Microsoft Working on Next Console.

More compact?

It's smaller than the original Xbox and a hell-of-a lot smaller than the PS3. I think it's a reasonably sized for a console.

Of course, they're working on the the next one. You have to because it takes that many years to design and develop technology like that. You can be assured that Sony and Nintendo are already working on their next consoles to some degree and will pick up the pace once their consoles are released.

[bkfount]

Re: Microsoft Working on Next Console.

More compact?

It's smaller than the original Xbox and a hell-of-a lot smaller than the PS3. I think it's a reasonably sized for a console.

Of course, they're working on the the next one. You have to because it takes that many years to design and develop technology like that. You can be assured that Sony and Nintendo are already working on their next consoles to some degree and will pick up the pace once their consoles are released.

I don't think it takes 5 years to plan a console at all anymore. The big companies now outsource pretty much all the chip making to IBM, ATI, NVidia these days. Some of the stuff isn't final even a year before the thing is dated to launch.

[born_bad]

Re: Microsoft Working on Next Console.

I don't think it takes 5 years to plan a console at all anymore. The big companies now outsource pretty much all the chip making to IBM, ATI, NVidia these days. Some of the stuff isn't final even a year before the thing is dated to launch.

Of course some of the things aren't final until the last hour. Hell, the PS3 was still going through changes a few months ago.

But "working on" can mean they are simply throwing around design ideas. I don't see any problems with that.

[rudyjuly2]

Re: Microsoft Working on Next Console.

No surprise that they are working on it but let's hope the 360/PS3 generation lasts for 8-10 years instead of 5 years or even the 4 year cycle MS went with for the original XBox. These new systems are so powerful, just adding horsepower to another system is NOT the answer and won't entice people to buy the next-next-gen system down the road. With graphics close to being life-like, they will no longer be a selling feature and that is traditionally what has sold new hardware.

We need to have longer cycles with hardware so that game companies stop building just one engine for sports games and tweak it for the next 5 years. If they know a system will be profitable for 10 years, there would be more incentive to re-do main components of a game on the same system.

[Cyros]

Re: Microsoft Working on Next Console.

With what Sony and Nintendo are doing, does motion sensing technology become a standard for the following generation?

[DaveDQ]

Re: Microsoft Working on Next Console.

No surprise that they are working on it but let's hope the 360/PS3 generation lasts for 8-10 years instead of 5 years or even the 4 year cycle MS went with for the original XBox. These new systems are so powerful, just adding horsepower to another system is NOT the answer and won't entice people to buy the next-next-gen system down the road. With graphics close to being life-like, they will no longer be a selling feature and that is traditionally what has sold new hardware.

We need to have longer cycles with hardware so that game companies stop building just one engine for sports games and tweak it for the next 5 years. If they know a system will be profitable for 10 years, there would be more incentive to re-do main components of a game on the same system.

Good points..

And my Xbox 360 is very reliable...knock on silicon.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Microsoft Working on Next Console.

No surprise that they are working on it but let's hope the 360/PS3 generation lasts for 8-10 years instead of 5 years or even the 4 year cycle MS went with for the original XBox. These new systems are so powerful, just adding horsepower to another system is NOT the answer and won't entice people to buy the next-next-gen system down the road. With graphics close to being life-like, they will no longer be a selling feature and that is traditionally what has sold new hardware.

We need to have longer cycles with hardware so that game companies stop building just one engine for sports games and tweak it for the next 5 years. If they know a system will be profitable for 10 years, there would be more incentive to re-do main components of a game on the same system.

I kind of worry a little that their already working on the next system. I hope we don't see next next gen in about 4 years. They should be worried at the moment on winning this next generation and finding ways to make the 360 cheaper. But can you also fault them for wanting to get a jump start, MS is not resting on their laurels.

[Money99]

Re: Microsoft Working on Next Console.

Surprise, surprise. Let's hope it's more reliable than the 360.

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=68767

Microsoft EMEA veep Chris Lewis says the company is already working on its next next-generation console because "we have to".

Preliminary work is already under way, he told UK games site Kikizo.

"You can't sit back on your laurels in this business - the consumer won't let you, the developers certainly won't let us. So that's happening right now," he said.

The research and development practices of the console division are "no different than any other part of Microsoft" though, he insisted.
Advertisement

The news that Microsoft is already working on an Xbox 360 successor won't come as much surprise, mind - having been last to market with its first Xbox, the company was first to market in the next generation.

"You'll see more over time - certainly we're not talking about the next version yet," Lewis added, continuing to not talk about it, "so give us a chance to catch a breath, will you?"

I don't buy that "You can't sit back on your laurels in this business - the consumer won't let you, the developers certainly won't let us" crap.

Developers still aren't 100% proficient on building for the current gen boxes and now they're being forced to figure out the next-gen consoles.
And as consumers, I know I'm not happy with shelling out $500+ every 3-5 years.
And I know a few people that were very happy with how long the PS2 has lasted.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Microsoft Working on Next Console.

I don't buy that "You can't sit back on your laurels in this business - the consumer won't let you, the developers certainly won't let us" crap.

Developers still aren't 100% proficient on building for the current gen boxes and now they're being forced to figure out the next-gen consoles.
And as consumers, I know I'm not happy with shelling out $500+ every 3-5 years.
And I know a few people that were very happy with how long the PS2 has lasted.

That's one thing about SONY and the Playstation brand, they have shown longetivity with both their consoles, PS1 and PS2.

[sroz39]

Re: Microsoft Working on Next Console.

You guys need to relax for a second. This is common practise in the industry. I'm actually surprised they're saying anything, because they are probably well behind Sony when it comes to working on the next generation of hardware. Sony typically begins work on a new piece of hardware before they have released their newest system.

Secondly, this "work" is nothing more than conceptual work, and involves alot of guessing as to what will be the landscape in 5-6 years down the road. A.K.A. Research & Development.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Microsoft Working on Next Console.

You guys need to relax for a second. This is common practise in the industry. I'm actually surprised they're saying anything, because they are probably well behind Sony when it comes to working on the next generation of hardware. Sony typically begins work on a new piece of hardware before they have released their newest system.

Secondly, this "work" is nothing more than conceptual work, and involves alot of guessing as to what will be the landscape in 5-6 years down the road. A.K.A. Research & Development.

I think were all just hoping that the 360 lasts longer.

[sroz39]

Re: Microsoft Working on Next Console.

I think were all just hoping that the 360 lasts longer.

I don't blame you. But my educated guess us it will last a typical, non-Sony 5 years and then die a quick death like the Xbox did when the new hardware came out.

The only reason that the original Xbox didn't last the 5 years is because it was released so late. To keep up with the Jones' they had to be first out of the gate.

[DocHolliday]

Re: Microsoft Working on Next Console.

I want the new sytems to come out every year! LEROOOOY JENKINNNNS