Xbox 2 Available For the Holidays in 2005?
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BusinessWeek has learned that Microsoft is planning to launch the next version of Xbox, code-named Xenon, in time for the holiday season in 2005, shaving a year off the typical five-year console life cycle. And while a Sony partner says the Japanese company is aiming for the same launch window, game developers say Sony hasn't yet nailed down the key technical details of its next PlayStation. Without that data, developers can't begin coming up with games, which typically takes 18 months.
While Sony will not publicly discuss launch plans, developers believe PlayStation 3 will likely land on store shelves in Japan in the spring of 2006, and in North America six month later. If they're right, Xbox could hit the market as much as a year ahead of its biggest rival -- giving Microsoft a big advantage. Says David Cole, an analyst with researcher DFC Intelligence: "That could push Xbox into the lead."
