Microsoft Talking New Xbox

Blizzard executive VP Rob Pardo yesterday told guests of the Luminaries Lunch that his company and Microsoft were already discussing the latter's plans for a sequel to the Xbox 360. While not providing details on any of Microsoft's goals for the future game system, the developer mentioned to GI and others that his firm was in active talks and suggested he would advocate for a new controller method that would solve many of the roadblocks for porting over PC-like games that need more advanced input, such as real-time strategy games like Starcraft II.

"There are are so many games like we make at Blizzard that we don't take to consoles because they don't support the input device and you end up with crappy ports," he said. "If I was them, I'd be sitting around trying to figure out what's a cool input device that supports all types of new kinds of games."

The mention is one of the first for any replacement for the current generation of consoles, which first launched along with the Xbox 360 in November of 2005. Industry observers as well as console makers like Sony have hinted that existing systems may last longer in the market as both high prices and the time needed for a meaningful improvement in technology are likely to lead to a longer life cycle for current systems.

By Electronista Staff