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.
