XBox 720 Release Date - The Countdown Begins

Xbox 720 Release Date Headquarters
(Continually Updated)

The rumor mill has been hard pressed to stay up to date with the latest from the world of console gaming in the last few months. With Sony hard at work on its PlayStation 4, and the Wii U now announced from Nintendo, it's unsurprising to discover that Microsoft too have been upping their staff intake to work on the next generation Xbox, fondly referred to as the Xbox 720.

The Elusive Xbox 720 Release Date
At present it's impossible to say with any positivity exactly when we can expect to see this all new Xbox appearing on the shelves of our favorite gaming stores across the country, Microsoft has yet to make any announcement. The eyes of gamers across the globe will undoubtedly be focusing on E3 2012 (Early June 2012) as the possible medium for an announcement from the boys at Microsoft.

The relatively recent release of the Xbox Kinect, along with a new Xbox 360 slim model, certainly suggests that the developers are expecting to squeeze a lot more life out of the existing console yet. In fact, once upon a time Microsoft made the statement that they expected the 360 to be a ten-year console. That would take us up to the year 2015.

Don't panic! We really aren't going to have to wait that long. How do we know? Because the latest official reports suggest that there will be a reasonable overlap between the Xbox 360 and the all new 720.

But that's not all... The ever intensifying debate over the best console, PlayStation or Xbox, could face a devastating blow dependent on which manufacturer is able to bring out their next generation console more swiftly. If Microsoft can pip Sony to the post by even a few months they can be sure of extra sales, especially after Sony's security scandal of 2011, with the loss of player data from around the globe.

We wouldn't be surprised therefore to find the 720 hitting the high street in 2013. As soon as solid release dates for the Wii U and PS4 are scheduled, we can expect a rush of action from the Microsoft development team as the final sprint to the finish line begins.

Farewell to Our Friend, the Xbox 360
Or perhaps not. Microsoft has insisted that they will continue to support the Xbox 360 for as long as customers still purchase it. Unlike the upgrade of the original Xbox to the Xbox 360 where ties to the older console were instantly severed, we can certainly expect to see a period of months, or more likely years, where both the 360 and the 720 are supported and stocked.

In considering the lifespan of the Xbox 360 it is important to remember its spectacularly awful launch. Microsoft was actually down $1.2 billion after that tumultuous release, so it's hardly surprising that they will wish to squeeze every cent from the console that developed its current popularity later in life.

The release of the entirely unique (for a console) Kinect system was certainly a feather in Microsoft's cap, as the PlayStation Move technology simply hasn't hit the headlines as successfully. We do wonder if this augmented reality, where we become the controller for our favorite games, will continue into the development of the Xbox 720. Could classic controllers become a thing of the past? It seems unlikely but perhaps that's the way the gaming world is turning.

What's in a Name?
We couldn't finish our introduction to the 'Xbox 720' without at least a brief mention of that mystical name which, to date, no one seems to have any clue about! Popular feeling amongst the gaming populations on the World Wide Web has certainly speculated that 720 could be a suitable term for this new console, but with Microsoft quiet on the subject we really can't be sure.

No matter what name is eventually chosen for this console, we certainly can say for sure that every aspect of the technology incorporated within will be a significant leap forward. With the Xbox 360 now over seven years old, we can't wait to get our hands on some extra processing power to vastly heighten the gaming experience.

Update - December 2011

The Xbox 360 model has a "two module" strategy. The bare bone systems are cheaper and limited and the model up is supped up. This has held up some developers because you can't assume everyone has the supped up version. According to Digital Foundry, Microsoft is keeping this strategy for the new Xbox system.

"It's...believed that Microsoft will continue its successful two SKU strategy", was quoted from the story. The cheaper Xbox model will be Kinect themed, with the capability to watch Netflix and TV. The supped up version will have an optical disk, hard disk, and backward compatibility for the hardcore gamer.

The chip manufacturer for AMD, NVIDIA, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), has confirmed that Microsoft is transitioning to a 28nm process, and we can expect the first graphics cards in early 2012. Any transitions to a new yield can cause issues, and it's unlikely Microsoft will want that financial hit again. A release date of 2013 seems more feasible for now.

Update - November 2011

If you are expecting the Xbox 720 to be announced at E3 2012 conference, you might be disappointed. The current rumor is that Microsoft and industry partners are looking at a 2013 release date for the next generation console.

Current reports are stating that processor chip manufacturers to middleware firms are actively working with Microsoft to unveil a new console at E3 2013. Which could possible mean a holiday release for 2013 or early release in 2014.

There have been rumors about gaming companies that have led to a Xbox 720 development. Lionhead is currently working on a project named Fable "NExt", which is suppose to launch a new console. One rumor insist that EA studio has new Xbox technology on their desks, however, EA has denied these reports.

Microsoft did state that Xbox 360 Kinect is what they consider the Xbox 720, so likely they will focus on marketing the Xbox 360 for awhile.

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