Rumors and speculation have been rampant regarding when the next generation will take hold in games. For some, Nintendo Wii U will be the first push into next gen technology, while others think it’s a stop-gap to hold over Nintendo until the real next generation begins. Analysts and pundits have suggested that Microsoft will announce a next generation Xbox at next year’s E3, but sales figures indicate that the brand has never been stronger. More recently, several new sources have come forward to claim that the next Xbox console will integrate with Windows 8 and be an all encompassing device.
This single eco-system that was mentioned by Microsoft’s Andy Lees suggests that a unitary system could be implemented that is common across phones, PCs, TVs, and other things. Lees even hinted at the possibility of a gaming system fitting into this model.
If this is what Microsoft intends to do with the future of the Xbox brand, these new reports would suggest that the new console could arrive when Windows 8 does. This is currently slated for 2015. I think its a long shot at this point, but 2015 would be a nice round number, and double what the traditional console lifespan has been in the past. If this turns out to be the case, it looks like we won’t be seeing those truly remarkable next-generation graphics that Epic and Crytek boasted at this year’s GDC anytime soon.
This is all speculation at this point, but it’s food for thought. What would you think about waiting another four years for a new console?
Source: GIbiz
