That curse was broken with the PS3.

OP is implying the original Xbox was a success, it did end in second place but I would not call it a success.

The thread topic is a bit different that what I thought the title suggested... I thought by "curse of the 3rd console", it was referring to the fact that there had never been more than 2 successful home consoles that thrived during the same generation, but that "curse" was broken this past gen with the PS3 making a late comeback after it was looking like it was left 4 dead for a couple of years there. However, the trend of having only 2 successful consoles in a generation may pick up again if the Wii U doesn't turn things around fast.

But back OT, no, I don't think this "curse" will continue with the Xbox Infinity. One, because M$ has never actually led at any point during a generation in sales while all the other console manufacturers have. So if they were to say come in 2nd again, they'd be pretty consistent. And two, because they have too strong a foothold in the market, while their competitors have had their share of struggles... Sony trying to regain their lost momentum over the past generation, and Nintendo turning the clock back and doing yet another base jump off a cliff without a parachute with the Wii U.

I read that Nintendo and Microsoft both expected Gamecube and Xbox to do 50 million each thru 05, they didnt even do thay combined

Na, not Microsoft. The third console from them has been in the making and we've known about it for ages and only now we ask the question? I doubt the fanboys who voted ms will fail actually believe it themselves. It's more of a want than a prediction. Isn't the ps3 profitable now? I'd say that even the slightest success breaks the curse anyway and should the n64 even be considered as cursed? it was an awesome console.