The “BIG” question that everyone always ask and wonder is, when is the Xbox 720 going to be released? We did our job and here is a list of compiled rumors for possible Xbox 720 release dates. Since no one knows the exact date, it is always fun to predict when exactly this new console will be released. Could it be as early as 2012? … or as late as 2015 and beyond ? … Warning! … most of these rumors are not backed by concrete reliable sources, most are just run off the mill rumors so read at your own risk.
Back in May 2009, Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter claimed that the next-gen Xbox game console wouldn’t begin development before 2013 due to the fact that publishers will resist the introduction of new hardware tech that will need extensive overhaul of the software. Publishers have yet to capitalize on the heavy investments already made in an already competitive cycle for the current console.
Senior director of the Xbox product management team, David Hufford, stated in January 2010 that the Xbox 360 still has a long future ahead and that there is no need to launch a new console. The Xbox 360 can still maintain its longevity through software and hardware upgrades similar to Project Natal. He claimed that the Xbox 360 is till in its mid-life cycle and still has a long ways to go before its demise.
A bgr.com source in June 2011 stated that Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division would plan to reveal the new Xbox console at E3 2012, where its pre-E3 press conference coincides on June 11, 2012. It is possible that the Xbox 720 has been in development as early since 2006. A high ranking source from Crytek stated that the upcoming game, TimeSplitters 4 is already being developed for the new Xbox console using Microsoft’s updated DX11 development tool.
ID Software’s lead programmer John Carmack claimed that Microsoft would announce the new Xbox game console at E3 2012 with the system being available in the year 2013. He stated that the new console will be ten times as powerful as the current 8th generation game console (ie, PS3 Xbox 360, Wii).
Senior executives of the top US retailers told their shareholders on July 2011 that they won’t be expecting the next generation game console (Xbox 720 and Playstation 4) to launch until 2015.
Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli expects the new console to be released sometime in 2012 or 2013. M2 Senior Analyst Billy Pidgeon expects the Xbox 720 to come before Q4 of 2014 and the Wii 2 by 2012. A 2014 to 2015 release could also be a possibility as Square Enix is planning to open a second Canadian development studio by 2012. Furthermore, a designer that worked with Microsoft implied that a 2015 release date has already been set. This is coming from a source from his online portfolio under the name of Ben Peterson.
It is always fun to speculate when a hyped up product is going to be released, we can only wait and see when the exact date will be announced. Any guesses on when the Xbox 720 will be released? Winner will receive a golden star 