Only a few week before CES kicks off in Las Vegas, rumors run rampant about Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony all unveiling new console hardware, some sooner than expected.
We’ve been talking about the yet-unnamed Xbox 720 and the likely-named PlayStation 4 for a very long time now, with contradictory “reports” and rumors surfacing almost monthly. While the only confirmed new upcoming console so far is Nintendo’s Wii U, the latest insider reports claim that Microsoft and Sony will both be unveiling new consoles at this summer’s E3, while Nintendo showcases the final build of their Wii U along with a new model of the 3DS.
Before getting into the latest, let’s do a brief recap of what we’ve heard as of late on the next-gen console front.
•The Xbox 720 could launch anywhere from this fall to early 2014 and we believe Microsoft will show it off at E3 2012. Latest reports have the device potentially doubling as a DVR with the Xbox 360 Kinect 2 system being so accurate, that it can read lips.
•The PlayStation 3 was generally expected to have the longest life cycle of the current-gen systems, but Sony has made it public that they don’t wish to launch their next platform later than the competition, and some analysts believe the PS4 could launch before the Xbox 720.
•The Wii U is coming this year and we’re all waiting to see how powerful it really is, not just compared to the old Xbox 360 console and PS3 but the upcoming Microsoft and Sony consoles.
•The 3DS had a tough start, but is flying higher now with stronger sales and a friendlier price point. Oddly missing the basic feature of a secondary analog stick, Nintendo launched an ugly, large circle pad peripheral which led to speculation of an obligatory improved 3DS Lite.
The latest on these fronts comes first from MCV who are reporting that their “third-party publishing sources” claim that Microsoft has informed their partners that they plan to debut the Xbox 720 at E3 in LA in June. They continue to explain that Sony has done the same, but that while these two consoles will be showcased, their pricing and launch details likely won’t be.
What this does mean however, is that E3 2012 could be the first time the world can directly compare the big three’s upcoming hardware offerings. Such moves from Sony and Microsoft could put Nintendo is a tough spot in launching the Wii U first, later this year, if the competitor products presented are more powerful or appealing.
This year promises to be a big one, and this just on the hardware side. Are you excited to see what’s next or are you okay waiting a while before the next-gen hits hard?
