Microsoft wants to go first (again) with next Xbox

by Randy Nelson on Jun 18th 2008 4:00AM

The house Bill Gates built received its share of quizzical looks when it launched Xbox 360 a year earlier than Sony was tipped to ship PS3. Fast forward to today. If you ask MS, it's a move it'll never regret ... and intends to repeat.

Speaking with Venture Beat (which, despite its name, is not a Venture Bros. fan site), Xboss Robbie Bach cited the console's year-long lead as helping it "get a leg up with game developers" – which certainly can't be argued. The head-start also "gave a leg up" to Xbox Live, Bach says, allowing MS to grow the service considerably prior to the launch of its competitors' offerings. But the biggie: "If you asked if we'd want to be first again, I'd say yes." He's the boss, folks. Just don't ask if MS will be going with a "Mauve Ring of Death" next time 'round. We're pretty sure he'd get a leg up on you, if you catch our drift.

[Via X3F]

Tags: microsoft, robbie-bach, venturebrothers, xbox-360, xbox-live

Reader Comments (60)

I've been an early adopter since the N64, but I'm going to wait a LONG time before I pick up the next MS console. (If I do at all.) I'm on my third 360 and I've started buying all my multi-platform stuff on PS3.

Hmmm...

If M$ got one leg up with developers, and the other leg up with Xbox Live, doesn't that mean that it's fallen on its ass?

Could it have been Microsoft's plan all along. Hook people on Xbox Crack, make the system die in three years so they have to get a new one. Now its Xbox Meth even better. They are addicts so they'll have to buy.

It really doesn't seem as far fetched anymore. What will happen when the 360 three year warranty runs out. I'm sure Microsoft will not extend it further. It is pretty much guaranteed that any 360 bought over the past 2 years will not last longer than 3 years. You just hope that it breaks under warranty so you can get a new one. Past 3 years well you are SOL, but Microsoft has a solution. The XBOX 720 with Halo, CoD, and Gears BC.

So they want to force a new generation of consoles on us early again. Great.

BUT, while releasing early is all well and good for Microsoft, wouldn't Sony have a chance to masively up the power of the PS4? I mean, technology moves a hell of a lot in one year. The PS3 could have blown the 360 out of the water if Sony wanted to redesign about 9 months after the 360's release.

how can anyone recommend buying a console at launch anymore?

From poorly built hardware [360] to radically different SKU's [PS3] and the accompanying price changes (all within both console's first years at retail) why in god's name would you? it's just not a smart investment.

i won't be purchasing the next xbox until it's been on the shelves for at least two years. by then the hardware will be more reliable with more advanced features all at a cheaper price to boot.

Successfully forcing another console cycle sets a bad precedent. Many console gamers do not want the same stupid technology arms race that has plagued PC gaming for years. PC gaming is finally starting to ease up on the tech race.