Microsoft: Xbox 360 May Not Even Be At Mid-Cycle Yet

It's clear that the current console cycle is shaping up to be longer than any previous, as major platform holders Sony and Microsoft get ready to roll out motion control tech they hope will extend the lifecycle. Sony's known for having always expressed its commitment to the long-haul, shooting for the same ten-year lifecycle for the PlayStation 3 that it saw with the PlayStation 2. Now Microsoft is now more boldly asserting its commitment to the Xbox 360 for as far as the eye can presently see, in new comments from CES reported by the UK Guardian. "I think it's important to say that the Xbox 360 is the console of the long future for us," senior director of Xbox product management David Hufford said. "There is no need to launch a new console, because we're able to give this console new life either with software upgrades or hardware upgrades like Project Natal." "The Xbox 360 was designed for a long life, and I don't even know if we're at the midpoint yet," Hufford added -- noting that the company had no plans to enhance or update the Xbox 360 with the kind of hardware streamline that benefited Sony with its less-expensive PS3 Slim. "We love our prices right now," said Hufford. "I don't want to say that technology stops, but...we think we're in a good place now heading into the Natal era." During Microsoft's CES address, exec Robbie Bach confirmed that the motion-sensing Natal interface will release later this year.