Written by Jonny Williamson
Many were hoping that Microsoft would use this summer’s E3 – the annual video game industry conference in Los Angeles – to show off their latest console ahead of a Christmas 2012 release date.
Though notoriously unforthcoming with comments on speculation, David Dennis (a product manager for Microsoft), emailed www.bloomburg.com to state that no new hardware will be discussed at E3 2012; Xbox 360 will be the sole focus.
Even though the console was in its seventh year on the market, 2011 saw Microsoft’s best year for the Xbox 360, bringing total sales to 65.8 million worldwide – as of this January .With continued sales and consumer demand it would seem that Microsoft are making the sensible choice, to release a new console now could prematurely end the life of a still-lucrative product for them.
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The big three – Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony – accept that for the first few years of a new console’s release a loss will likely be made in terms of money invested in hardware and software, so each models lifeline needs to be exploited to its maximum economic potential.
This year’s E3 – 5 to 7 June – is likely to be dominated by the release of Nintendo’s latest Wii U console, which has already garnered a huge amount of attention and expectation. Microsoft’s decision to delay the release of a new console could be seen as them not wanting to go up against one of their main rivals and having to share the ensuing exposure.
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