In light of all of the rumors abound regarding the next generation Xbox launching in 2012, I thought I’d present the opposing viewpoint.  While almost anything is possible in this industry, I believe it would definitely be in Microsoft’s best interest not to launch the next generation Xbox (I like to refer to it as the “Xbox 1080”) until 2013.

But they don’t want Nintendo to get a lead in the market…

Even if Wii U is indeed a big success, it’ll surely be great news for Nintendo, but won’t necessarily spell trouble for the current HD systems any time soon.  Even in a best case scenario for Nintendo (high console demand, great third party support, great online, etc), it’ll be quite some time (if ever) before Wii U is the go to place for Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto over the 360 or PS3.  Given enough time on the market without 8th gen competition perhaps (again, best case scenario for Nintendo), but certainly not within the first year.  Add to that the fact that Microsoft knows that they could indeed share the market with Nintendo if they had to and still be able to prosper, as they see Sony, not Nintendo, as their direct competitor.  And Microsoft is not afraid to go toe to toe with Sony in the same year… and that’s if the PS4 even launches in 2013 to begin with.

But Halo 4 could launch on both the 360 and the 1080 simultaneously, ala Zelda: Twilight Princess (Gamecube and Wii)…

The big difference here is that the Gamecube was a sinking ship; the 360 is not.  Why would Microsoft jeopardize the pure profits that Halo 4 and 360 would bring them by launching a new console at the same time?  Either the 360 would initially outsell the 1080 (much like the PS2 did over the PS3 for about a year and a half) incurring big losses on their new hardware, or, less likely, Xbox 1080’s launch and superior Halo would cause 360 sales to slow, and would be eclipsed by the PS3 in sales worldwide; neither of which Microsoft wants.

I realize that many are excited for the 8th generation consoles to begin (and for Nintendo, at this point it makes perfect sense to release a new console in 2012), but there are also many who believe that the 360 and PS3 (and their inevitable price drops) should remain uninterrupted by successors until 2013.

Biggest reason you're wrong is Sony PS4.

360 had a year head start and FAR higher US sales than PS3. Yet, without that years head start, it would be in 3rd place and no chance on catching the PS3. In fact, it would have ALWAYS been in third place and quite honestly not even close to PS3 had they launched in the same time frame with arguably the same game lineup. Additionally, you could probably argue they wouldn't have had the same game line up as 3rd parties might have pushed harder for PS3 development since 360 wouldn't have had a 5million or more larger user base.

MS won't want to start off on an equal footing with Sony. They might not care as much about Nintendo getting a head start, but they definitely don't want to be last or tied for last place out the gate.

Its far more in their interest to launch with Nintendo in 2012 and let PS4 be the last one out the gate sometime in 2013, than to be with Sony in 2013. (also, anyone who thinks PS4 isn't coming by 2013 is delusional)

RE: Halo4... who cares? A Halo remake (which is all it is really) is not selling new systems for either the 360 or the neXtBox. Its simply selling a lot of software units. Having Halo4 coming out on 360 and a same time frame launch of a neXtBox, with undoubtedly full backwards compatibility to the 360, will not affect the sales of a new console in any way. If anything it will help it as its just another big Xbox exclusive title someone will want to play on their new console or older one.

In reality, 2012 is a good release window so long as MS has already been planning for this and has some NEW (Halo4 is not new) game content to sell it. Something that makes you go out and pay that $300-$400 for the neXtBox and additional accessories that go along with it. As long as they have been planning for this and have that available, it will be just fine next to a WiiU that will probably be $50 to a max of $100 cheaper at launch as well as highly competitive to a year later PS4.

To me, Sony should be really fearing this news. They should not want to be last out the gate, regardless if the 1st year games on WiiU or neXtBox don't look too much different than their PS3 counterparts. Fact is, it'll be old news and people will be upgrading en masse.

doubt it. MS is smarter then Ninty.

@superchunk - I think you're getting confused between Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary which released 2 days ago and Halo 4. Halo 4 is a new game and the start of a whole new trilogy.

I believe that MS' strategy moving forward will be to release the new console and keep the 360 alive for as long as it's in their power to do so. I think they'll be more concerned about protecting their residual income streams from live subscriptions and marketplace downloads, to drop support for their latest heavy hitters (Halo 4) for the 360 to the new console. They risk losing those customers to the competitions' new offerings. It is for this reason that I was speculating a 'Zelda: Twilight Princess' arrangement.

I'm having a great time with the current gen.  Think it has a lot of life left in it and would be perfectly happen w my ps3 until 2014 or 2015.  I'm sure the next gen will start before that, but it'd be a bit of a bummer.  Oh well, I'm sure that by the time I get a new console we will have went through a round or two of price cuts and I'll get it cheap....hell yes

I'm curious to see the new console so I want it to release in 2012

I don't think it will though

I'm 100% sure it'll release next holidays though, almost exactly a year from now I dare to say. And PS4 should follow by March/April '13.

No way MS will launch 720 next year

"Do you think "Xbox 1080" will launch in 2012?"

LOL why am i laughing at that question, maybe because you called the new console "Xbox 1080"