News Article

Thanks to Kinect, Xbox 360 Could Be Around Until 2017

Posted Mon, 27 Jun 2011 by James Newton

One eye on the future

Microsoft man optimistic

The original Xbox only mustered four or five years at retail, but Xbox 360 is heading towards a sixth year on shelves with plenty more to come. The reason behind its continued success, according to Xbox VP of EMEA Chris Lewis, is Kinect.

In an interview with UK trade magazine MCV, Lewis called Kinect "a shot of adrenaline" for the console, with the family audience drawn to the sensor filling out the machine's user base:

What we are now seeing is massive swathes of families and younger audiences flocking to it. As you saw at the press conference, we are now in line with what we projected at E3 2010

Lewis says Microsoft sees Xbox as 'halfway through its life cycle', which would mean the machine sticking around until 2017, an incredible proposition. For the machine to survive that long with Kinect on board, Lewis acknowledges the importance of Kinect experiences for core gamers, something he's keen to emphasise:

What you will see is us using Kinect to enhance the experience and not detract from it. I don't think our core gamers will tolerate anything else from us.

Will Xbox 360 really be around for another five or six years? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: computerandvideogames.com.

Tags: Xbox 360, Kinect, The Future.

User Comments

1. ifell41 27 Jun 2011, 22:29 BST

When other console manufacturers (sony, basically), come out with a brand new, graphically superior machine in the near future, I don't see how xbox could lag behind by not releasing a new one... And I kind off want to get a new console every now and again, if only to have the idea that things are moving forward.. :-)

2. Gertmint 28 Jun 2011, 13:08 BST

Seems along time to me, but over the years they did do the right thing by redesigning the 360, and the Kinect brings new life to it I agree. in the same way the Move controller brought new life to the PS3. I think the next step is adding a 3D software update to help keep up with Sony. Or even sell 360's with an optional Blu-Ray built in.