Xbox 720: Next Gen Effecting Current Gen Sales
The Microsoft Xbox division has blamed a recent slump in sales on the ever decreasing need for the current generation console. Although overall, Microsoft saw a profit this quarter the division that includes the Xbox 360 saw a 16% decrease in profit based on this time last year.
Aside from blaming a lack of demand for the profit loss, Microsoft have also indicated that as the Windows Phone falls into the same division as the Xbox 360, that research and development costs are also responsible for seeing a dip. Microsoft feel that the Xbox 360 still has mileage, despite the fact that the industry is starting to look past the ageing console in favour of the rumoured Xbox 720 or Durango as it is supposedly codenamed. In defence of their current gen console, Microsoft pointed out that the Xbox 360 is still the top selling console in the USA and have been for well over a year.
Xbox at the E3 2011 (Credit: Microsoft)
The problem with looking at these figures in isolation though it that while Xbox 360 may be the top selling console in the US at the moment, in reality that means that is is the best selling of a really geriatric selection, of which the Xbox is the oldest. Nintendo are currently working on their next console the Wii U and rumours are flying surrounding Sony’s work on the PS4. Despite Microsoft’s honeyed words they are, without doubt, working on the next generation Xbox. The industry expects to hear the first official news around the time of E3 in June.
- Share article with other networks
