Talking to the technology press in Japan overnight, Microsoft executive Steve Ballmer shocked the world by announcing the launch date for the next generation of Xbox in the country.
Indeed, speaking of the console’s relatively poor performance to date in Japan, Ballmer indicated that perhaps the launch time for the machine wasn’t quite right.
He went on to state that the next Xbox console, tagged as Xbox 2 or Xbox Next depending who you speak to, will hit the Japanese market in 2006.
This amazing news sees the projected global roll-out for the next Xbox slip back somewhat from the late 2004 - early 2005 prediction bandied about by most analysts. As Microsoft at various times has said that it wished to deliver a simultaneous launch on a global basis, does this mean that we won’t see Xbox 2 for as long as three years? Most believe this is unlikely.
It’s better to promise a later date and deliver early than to allow a product to slip, though some this morning are pointing towards a clever piece of subterfuge by Ballmer.
It is well known now that Sony is not having the easiest time with its current next-generation research and development phase, with the PS3 as tangible as orange nut fog. This being the case, to let SCE believe it has more breathing space than it actually has may well prove to be a weighty blow in the battle for Generation 5 supremacy.
Indeed, speaking of the console’s relatively poor performance to date in Japan, Ballmer indicated that perhaps the launch time for the machine wasn’t quite right.
He went on to state that the next Xbox console, tagged as Xbox 2 or Xbox Next depending who you speak to, will hit the Japanese market in 2006.
This amazing news sees the projected global roll-out for the next Xbox slip back somewhat from the late 2004 - early 2005 prediction bandied about by most analysts. As Microsoft at various times has said that it wished to deliver a simultaneous launch on a global basis, does this mean that we won’t see Xbox 2 for as long as three years? Most believe this is unlikely.
It’s better to promise a later date and deliver early than to allow a product to slip, though some this morning are pointing towards a clever piece of subterfuge by Ballmer.
It is well known now that Sony is not having the easiest time with its current next-generation research and development phase, with the PS3 as tangible as orange nut fog. This being the case, to let SCE believe it has more breathing space than it actually has may well prove to be a weighty blow in the battle for Generation 5 supremacy.
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