Xbox 2 to Release in Fall of This Year

GamesIndustry.biz has the news that the Xbox 2 will be launched sometime in late fall of this year. With EA games already working on Xbox 2 titles and rumors of a name for the console in circulation, it looks like the first of the next-gen consoles will be here soon. From the article: "Many have expressed concern that Microsoft is forcing the next generation of console hardware too early, and that the current generation still has much to achieve. The most famous example of this came from then Nintendo of Europe MD David Gosen speaking at an ELSPA summit in London last October, where he lambasted Microsoft for pushing a next generation machine to market in 2005, and even went so far as to question Microsoft's motivation as profit." Additionally, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer has Balmer saying that they will "blow by Sony" with their next console.

Joke... too... easy...

[Anonymous Coward]

Microsoft blow? That's nothing new.

Profit?!?

[BigDawgES]

even went so far as to question Microsoft's motivation as profit.

A corporation? Motivated by profit? All this time I thought companies were supposed to act solely for the greater good of humanity!

Re:Um, duh?

[oGMo]

Additionally, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer has Balmer saying that they will "blow by Sony" with their next console.

Gotta love Microsoft. Looks like they're really pushing for success with this one by following in the footsteps of Sega.

Go Xboxcast.

What's next?

[UnknowingFool]

Okay so far:

Halo 2 released
Doom 3 released
Red Sox win World Series
Hurd reaches milestone
Now, Xbox2 releasing in November

Has global warming started to cool down hell already?

Re:What's next?

[laresek]

Never fear, Duke Nukem Forever is still not out.

Hell has a long time yet to completely freeze over!

Re:Dreamcast

[ChuckSchwab]

The Xbox 2 is going to be a good system though. Microsoft is going to implement some of their new technology in it, just like they did when they came out with the original Xbox. Keep in mind, these are the guys that came out with the whole .NET framework and created the world's most-used operating system. I see nothing but good things ahead.

Let the countdown begin!

[bizitch]

Ok - the Xbox2 is out in November - Does that mean modchips and hacks in time for Christmas?!?!

Re:What's next?

[Anonymous Coward]

I wouldn't worry too much. Still no sign of Duke Nukem Forever...

Re:Um, duh?

[IWannaBeAnAC]

You need to remember this is Microsoft. It will take until at least version 3.

Re:Um, duh?

[rcs1000]

Phew, and that strategy of getting the console out early so it grabs vast amounts of market share worked so well for Sega, 3DO, Atari and so many others, right?

Re:Um, duh?

[Lovesquid]

From the article:
"I'm feeling a little frisky on this topic right now!" [Balmer] added.

The thought of all that money has Balmer hard as a rock, apparently.

god bless ya ;-)

[Scrameustache]

If there was an article about Bill Gates wiping his nose, he'd be criticised here.

With good reason! Have you seen the brand of tissues he's using? That stuff is made directly from trees!

Responsible people use tissues made from recycled paper. He's clearly mad with power!

Obligatory Apple price dis alert

[shoptroll]

You ain't seen nothing yet... [jwz.org]

Thanks, Microsoft.

[DwarfGoanna]

Dear Steve, Bill, and friends,

When you guys first threw your weight into the console game arena, I have to admit I was worried. I was afraid you would do the same thing to it that you've done to the web browser, the personal computer, and well...everything else you've touched. That is, bury anything interesting or innovative under a huge pile of blood money. It really has ruined those things, and made you guys even bigger and wealthier. But it also pissed some people off. Some smart and innovative people, like the folks at Apple, the screaming millions of Linux contributers, the phoenix that was Netscape and is now Mozilla/FF/Thunderbird. You've inspired huge communities of people to do some great things.

And they're starting to nip at your heels, aren't they?

Back to video games. Well, Sony is Sony. Think the installed base of Atari without the complacency. They are fully aware that you'll devour them if they slip up, so they are trying like hell not to. I would say they've done a good job so far. Nintendo has taken a different tack (though they are still beating you everywhere but here). While people denigrate them for being a "kiddy" platform, they forget that we have such a huge market for games now partly because of the success of the NES with us when we were kids.

Your foray into gaming has ensured we have a top dog (maybe an alpha Aibo?) that stays quick on its feet, and guaranteed Big N will be around for at least another 20 years. I couldn't be happier with that. Please, feel free to remain the limburger cheese of the console business. Continue to turn people like me off with your one hit wonder lineup of games. Fight hard for you status as the console people buy after they already have one of the others. And don't hesitate to milk your installed base for whatever (subscriptions, DRM, feature creep) you can.

Thanks,

Dwarfgoanna

Re:Ballmer bullshit

[Eric_Cartman_South_P]

What is 'Halo 2?' It's the greatest video game ever written.

Sam and Max called, Mr. Ballmer, and the little bunny said to go fuck yourself.

Re:The Bigger Concern

[bushidocoder]

You're forgetting the biggest reason -

Live in girlfriends / wives don't like lots of boxes cluttering up "their" living room. That's wasted space where you could put another coffee table or something.

Re:Um, duh?

[identity0]

Except Microsoft has far more money than Sega. Sony won't be able to bury them with "Emotion Engine 65 bazillion polygon" bullshit marketing they way they did with Sega.

Well, a geek can dream, can't he? Maybe if we pray *really* hard...

Re:What's next?

[KZigurs]

Look for Duke Nukem Forever release next week on slashdot.

Remember - you first heard it from me.