Speaking to edge Don Mattrick of M S had this to say about the 360 lifespan.

How do long do you feel that Xbox 360 will be kept in the marketplace?

We’re seeing record levels of industry growth and success for our business and our industry, so I think that bodes really well for what we’re going to be able to achieve in future years. I think the ability to have a longer cycle to continue to drive value and innovate – there’s a lot of potential in the 360 that hasn’t been realized, and that bodes for a pretty good run in the market, and a lot of capabilities our box has that consumers are just getting used to. What we’ve achieved we‘re pleased with, but there’s a lot of runway ahead.

10 year cycle anyone?

Full interview here.

http://www.edge-online.com/magazine/exclusive-interview-don-mattrick

The console life of the X360 needs to be stretched out so they can turn a profit on the X360 console and buy time for the new project that is in development. Hold off on launch of new XBox until 2012 would be a good move. I expect 360 could have a lifespan lasting up to 7 to 8 years.

Bear in mid the original XBox was abandoned early due to it being partly produced the graphics card by Nvidia who departed ways with Microsoft.

there is a lot of runway ahead, but the Xbox brand will never be capable of takeoff because its appeal (mainly to gamerboys without quality computers) is so narrow. 40 million this generation maybe, somewhere in the 30s (slightly better then last gen) is more likely.

Nintendo and Sony have taken off in the past (and will in the future), but hell will freeze over before an Xbox sells anywhere near 100 million units. That the PS2 STILL outsells the xbox in some weeks worldwide is a sign of that.

@impulsivity, you have to be kidding, i see around 50 million for the 360 min, especialy if the gen last till 2012

what makes you think that? The Xbox had 4 or 5 years on the market and only sold 25 million, why would the 360 sell 50 million in the same time period?

Also look at Xbox sales, they did well up front and then tapered off as their limited market was saturated. How many Xbox owners do you know that aren't men in their teens to 30s? They just have such a limited demographic, they'll never achieve widespread success.

Xbox should easily hit 40-50 million if not more if MS plays their market right. There are still loads of people worldwide that havent experienced HD gaming due to price and for those price concious people, 360 should be their first choice as it will always be cheaper than PS3.  Not to mention a better gaming library of older (cheaper) games.

Wii is selling like mad with virtually no worthwhile new software for months now... so console price does play a huge part in sales.

Also, you think there was 100 million different ps2 owners at one time? By the time PS2 hit 100 mil I am pretty sure about 10-15% were defective units...another 10-20% were people with 2 or more ps2 units and another 20% were people that wanted the slim model instead of the big fat one. The key to hitting 100 mil is to make people re-buy your console over and over.

very true about the original, but th sales pace here is to out sell the original at 3.5 years, aslo, the software catalog is much better, and the growth in industy is evident. also id have to say sony gave up their strangle hold on the industry with that horrid launch, so more even distribution through out the gen.

honestly to convince me the 360 wont sell less than 50 you need to show me evidence that sales have declined in two quarters, y over y which wont happen for a long time.

also there has never been a generation where the marquire madden title did not sell the most on the winning console. since the advent of the wii that will change, but of the 360 and ps3 madden can still show who might win. to make this clear i am not a madden fan at all (2k5 forever) but this trend of highest madden sales going to the winning console is fact. madden itself pushes sales of consoles

the original xbox also sufferd when sofware development was forced over to the 360 because of the nvida issue, i bet if not for end of production the 360 could have pushed 5 million more units life time

i think one of the things that point to this is the last game comming out for the original xbox is madden 09 imagine the sales t could have made if units were produced until then