Xbox 360 successor rumored to debut at E3 next year - any takers?

When do you think there will be a hardware upgrade for Microsoft Xbox 360 gaming console? Some rumors have floated up on the Web that Microsoft is ready to launch a hardware upgrade for Xbox 360 in the Electronic and Entertainment Expo (E3) of 2012. It does not mean that the software giant has shuddered to see gaming console upgrades from its top rivals Sony and Nintendo at the just-concluded E3 expo 2011 in Los Angels.

Xbox 360 successor

Both Sony and Nintendo, Japanese giants in the global entertainment industry, brought out upgrades for their gaming consoles at E3 2011. Sony unveiled its PlayStation Vita (Next Generation Portable) and Nintendo announced its Wii U. Indeed it is the time for Microsoft to roll out an upgrade for its well-accepted Xbox 360 gaming platform. But the company only concentrated on expanding the capability of its Kinect with a variety of groundbreaking titles such as Kinect Star Wars and Forza 4 at the E3 expo 2011.

According to VideoGamer, the German video game developer Crytek has already started working with Time Splitters 4, a title proposed for next-gen Xbox 360. The gaming Web portal says the new version of Time Splitters will be based on next-generation API of Microsoft, Direct X 11, certainly a potential feature of Xbox 360’s successor. It means that Crytek is developing fourth version of its first person shooter sequel for Microsoft’s anticipated Xbox 360 upgrade.

However, according to analysts, Microsoft won’t be bothered about Sony and Nintendo’s gaming console upgrades. Microsoft Xbox 360 platform already outshines Nintendo and Sony gaming consoles in terms of High Definition graphics and performance. Hence, the Redmond-based Windows OS developer will not have to be concerned about the significance of its Xbox 360 in the entertainment industry.

Gaming industry analysts are concerned whether Microsoft will kill Xbox 360 to launch a new version. Microsoft unveiled Xbox 360, the successor to its Xbox console on May 12, 2005. Hence, Microsoft may introduce a successor to Xbox 360 as Sony replaced its PS2 with PS3.

But, Microsoft doesn’t need to immediately launch such an upgrade at this point of time, because the market of its existing gaming console is going smoother. Microsoft Xbox 360 has been attracting customers even if Nintendo Wii and Sony PS3 have strong influence in the gaming market. As per estimates, as of March 31, 2011, there are more than 53.6 million 360 consoles worldwide.