Next Xbox console is a "hot, compelling device", says GameStop boss

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To date, Microsoft has not confirmed that it has a new console in the works, but it’s kind of an open secret. Raines refused to give any details, but in a chat with GamesIndustry, was one of the first to make any kind of open reference to the new hardware beyond a brief mention of NDAs.

“We’ve been spending a lot of time with Microsoft, but we have to let them take the lead on this, but it will be a very hot, compelling device,” he said.

“They are doing some really cool stuff, and I’m eager to hear them start their announcements because I think the world is going to stand up and take notice.”

As online vendors and digital sales eat into the traditional retail market, hardware remains something bricks-and-mortar can rely on. The last two hardware launches – 3DS and Vita – have been somewhat disappointing for retailers, but Raines said next-gen consoles won’t follow this trend, as many naysayers have predicted.

“I was talking to one of our founders, Dan DeMatteo, and he was telling me every console cycle you get people who will say ‘there will never be another console,’ or ‘what else can the consoles do?’ And we just believe it’s a cycle and we just haven’t had a new product in so long,” he said.

“But we certainly don’t believe that the new consoles won’t be as exciting. There’s a lot of demand for PS4, and I think there will be for the next Xbox as well, once it’s announced.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Raines said he doesn’t expect digital to ever fully replace digital, and that GameStop’s in-store digital content sales strategy is working. He wouldn’t committ to the question of whether next-gen games will be priced above the traditional $60 US RRP, but did say he thinks publishers would like it.

Nobody knows when Microsoft will break cover on the next Xbox console, which is codenamed Durango and nicknamed Xbox 720. Rumours put the console down as having similar if slightly less grunty specs to the PlayStation 4, but with dedicated hardware modules for various processing tasks. More wild talk speaks of always-on Internet, mandatory installs, and an obligatory Kinect, but a fairly bogstandard controller. Best guesses put the reveal before E3 2013.

Posted:
Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Source: http://www.vg247.com/2013/04/03/next-xbox-console-is-a-hot-compelling-device-says-gamestop-boss/

Comments

"Next Xbox console is a "hot, compelling device", says GameStop boss" :: Login/Create an Account :: 104 comments

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MTVPosted:

Pulp Better be "hot" for how much its going to cost..


Lol yeah or they're just messing with us that is sekc :p

7O2Posted:

Better be "hot" for how much its going to cost..

PhracturePosted:

Gossip Cant wait for this beast! Hurry up!!


Lezz go Lezz go!

FinancialChadPosted:

News like this just makes it more compelling to know what it's made of and such.

KelcyPosted:

Gossip Cant wait for this beast! Hurry up!!


me also its going to be amazing

Moto_Posted:

DLT
DCKCOCACOLA 2012? and digital to replace digital?


That would be digital downloads replacing digital discs.

Which I would say is a good few years from happening. Download speeds would need to dramatically increase for it to be a viable option, I get 30mb/s which means at full speed it would take about 30 minutes to download 50GB which isn't bad, but you never get full download speed so it would actually take about 3 hours. And some people don't even get 10mb/s so it would take them even longer.


Either you have ridiculously fast internet, or you're confused between Mb and MB. Mb (what most ISPs display their speeds in) is short for Megabit, which is 128 Kilobytes. 30 Mb/s usually equals around 3 MB/s. 30 MB/s would be about 300 Mb/s.

However, I agree with your point. I only get 1.5 Mb/s (Megabits, so max speed for me is about 180 Kilobytes), which means downloading an 8GB game takes over 12 hours. I seriously hope it's a few more years before digital takes over and higher speed broadband connections are more widely available. Living away from town or in an area where there's not a lot of houses severely limits your choices for Internet Providers and what speeds you can get.

SeedPosted:

Well if games stops boss says so I'm in!

GossipPosted:

Cant wait for this beast! Hurry up!!

-RefocusPosted:

Zyme
IccyHorizon I Cant what for E3 is going to be sick. And there will be so much talk about the next gen xbox.


Yeh I know E3 is gonna be great


Same I'm pumped for E3 new games, and a new console!!

SnugPosted:

IccyHorizon I Cant what for E3 is going to be sick. And there will be so much talk about the next gen xbox.


Yeh I know E3 is gonna be great