Next PlayStation and Xbox may not show until 2014
updated 02:35 pm EDT, Wed April 20, 2011
Future Xbox and PlayStation may wait 3 more years
Both Microsoft and Sony may be holding off on releasing genuinely new game consoles for another three years. Industry contacts claimed Wednesday that, if cycles allowed, neither the next PlayStation nor its Xbox equivalent would be ready until 2014. The two companies were giving signs to each other that they were delaying their lineups to "milk the current [hardware]" and cover earlier gaps, Kotaku was told.
The Xbox team was reportedly so early into the design process that it didn't have expectations of the components and wouldn't be ready with a genuinely new model before 2014. It was still deciding whether or not to have a device high-end enough to be sold at a loss and, if it had to rush through to 2013, might just be repackaging a bundle with the Kinect camera system.
Sony's process wasn't detailed, but as it shipped the PS3 a year later than Microsoft, had less of a reason to upgrade.
Neither of the companies commented on the accuracy of the story.
A launch that far into the future would leave the Xbox 360 nine years old before its replacement came and the PS3 eight. Apart from being the longest gap between new consoles yet, it could give Nintendo free rein if it releases a sequel to the Wii, possibly coming no later than 2012. Nintendo had a streak of near constant sellouts and high demand for the Wii between its 2006 arrival and 2010, which could theoretically see a repeat if it can recapture interest from gamers.
