Skip to Content
Uncategorized

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Gamble

I know I just blogged about this a few days back, but I really think that the battle shaping up between Sony and Microsoft for control of the digital home front is going to be fascinating. USA Today has a…
May 10, 2005

I know I just blogged about this a few days back, but I really think that the battle shaping up between Sony and Microsoft for control of the digital home front is going to be fascinating.

USA Today has a great roundup of the coming battle between the operating system (Microsoft’s Xenon) and chips (Sony’s Cell).

Another interesting lesson is this: Sony beat Microsoft out of the box in 2001, and promptly stomped the competition in terms of install base (a loss leader for companies, but important to recap money on games, and in the future, online play). So, Microsoft is fully expected to release its Xbox 360 this Christmas holiday season, potentially a full year before Sony.

That could be a huge mistake, particularly if there is no backwards compatibility – or if there are software problems. If not, though, MS could take over the market lead, primarily because it now has John Madden Football on its roster (along with Halo). Plus, MS has the most robust online game play (which generates revenues).

Of course, if there are major flaws with the system, Gates could be shooting himself in the foot by trying to beat Sony – the 900-lb gorilla – to the punch.

Keep Reading

Most Popular

DeepMind’s cofounder: Generative AI is just a phase. What’s next is interactive AI.

“This is a profound moment in the history of technology,” says Mustafa Suleyman.

What to know about this autumn’s covid vaccines

New variants will pose a challenge, but early signs suggest the shots will still boost antibody responses.

Human-plus-AI solutions mitigate security threats

With the right human oversight, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence can help keep business and customer data secure

Next slide, please: A brief history of the corporate presentation

From million-dollar slide shows to Steve Jobs’s introduction of the iPhone, a bit of show business never hurt plain old business.

Stay connected

Illustration by Rose Wong

Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review

Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.

Thank you for submitting your email!

Explore more newsletters

It looks like something went wrong.

We’re having trouble saving your preferences. Try refreshing this page and updating them one more time. If you continue to get this message, reach out to us at customer-service@technologyreview.com with a list of newsletters you’d like to receive.