3D: Why a new Xbox is coming sooner than later

[Squilliam]

Millennium said:
I honestly thought that a new XBox would be coming out in 2010, following Microsoft's addiction to the upgrade cycle. But there is one cold, hard reason that this cannot be the case: it's too close to that date, and there has been no announcement. If MS were planning a console release next year, they would have started to build hype for it by now. Any sensible console maker would.

We might see a new XBox in 2011, with hype starting in 2010, but this would be six years after the 360's release. That kind of longevity isn't earth-shattering by any stretch of the imagination, but it's certainly respectable. For all that I think Microsoft's influence on the industry has been poisonous, they seem to have at least come to their senses in this area, and that should be encouraged.

If they hype it now, sales will also die down as well. So its in their best interests to not hype a new release console until after the Christmas shopping season this year. After thats the slow season, and they can afford having slower sales because it won't matter quite as much.

Btw, 5-6 years is a typical length between generations... heck even the PS2 -> PS3 transition was that long. Any longer than 2010/2011 is actually A-typical.