Can the 360 really live that long!

[bdbdbd]

@Squiliam: I didn't mean it would be impossible, just provided the reason why we propably won't see one. Of course, it's only a question about can Intel provide a processor that has "enough" performance with "cheap" price. Maybe they could, but then again, it's not their businessmodel. And the deal with M$ about Xbox:s CPU was really bad for Intel.

@Mifely: 360 propably will stay in production after its successor is released, for the same reason why Xbox was killed immediatly; money. 360 hardware will make profit in 2011, which will financially help M$ in the transition to next gen, since a number of late adopters will get 360 after next gen is out. Although, it's also possible that M$ will kill 360 fast, if it's seen as a decision that pushes 720 sales.

I agree on that the leap in power won't be so big as it was from last generation to this (not counting Wii), but more like GC to Wii leap (not counting Nintendos next console), so there's no need to push the hardware specs as PS360 did. So we propably won't see "high-end" consoles, we propably see similar cost efficient systems as Megadrive and SNES were.
BTW, one interesting thing to notice, is that aside from Atari 5200->7800 and Gamecube->Wii, no console have so far used the same chipset as its predecessor (not sure about Ataris, but that's how i recall). And using the same methods as Sony, i don't think BC will be a problem. Sure the chips are currently big and somewhat expensive, but after few years, situation is completely different.

Late 2011 seems propable to release successor for 360, it's 6 years old by then and the launch games for it needs to be started this or the next year. And M$ definately wants to fight for its market share, maybe not by "ignoring losses", but at least i believe they want to be the first one out to gain foothold before competition comes out. 360 would be doing really bad without its headstart. Besides, "7 years" would mean only one year overlap between 360 and 720. Nintendo has hinted for 2012, and i doubt Sony will wait too long after M$ makes its move.