Xbox 720 – Evidence of Development
So since when did rumors on the development of the Xbox 720 first surfaced? Where or if there was even any evidence for the making of this new device? Well, we will look at several sources which would provide some clues that there is indeed, a development of a new-generation gaming console. Peter Moore of Microsoft’s IEB department stated that the development team is already looking for type of CPUs that will be available on the market in 2011 and 2012. The Xbox 360 will have a lifespan of approximately 6 to 7 years compared to the original Xbox of only 4 years. The launch of the Xbox 360 costs Microsoft a staggering $1.26 billion. They will want to make sure the new system, Xbox 720, will have an even longer lifespan then its predecessor, hopefully, longer than 7 years. The longer the lifespan into its life cycle, the more profit would result as it stops being a loss indicator.
Robbie Bach, the President of Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices department, was quoted on June 13th, 2008:
“Our view is we will be selling Xbox 360 for a long time. We are always working on new technologies. We have people working on those. People ask me how many people I have working on the next generation. On the one hand, it’s everybody. On the other, it’s nobody. People are continuously working on new technology.
We started thinking about the next generation before we shipped the Xbox 360. It doesn’t start with a date. It starts way upstream with silicon development. From that comes a series of data points. You start making early technology choices. It’s an evolving thing. Stuff doesn’t become concrete until you get inside a window of when you have to ship, more than 18 months or so out.”
Evidence from Microsoft’s recent job postings indicates that the Xbox Console Architecture team is looking for new talent to fill in the spots. The new recruits will be responsible for defining and delivering the next generation console architectures from the design to the final developmental process.