Game Developer Expecting Xbox 720 and/or PS4 for Christmas 2012Xbox 720 or PS4 by the end of this year? It could happen, according to a developer source IndustryGamers spoke with. After MCV reported that this is going to be the first E3 where all three platform holders would show three new consoles, we chatted with a well connected source who told us that Christmas 2012 has been his expectation for some time now - and it stems from the chip makers.
"The 'trick' to these rumors is not the console manufacturers themselves, but rather the chip makers. All indications from them are that things change significantly (ie next generation) come November of this year. As such, it has been my presumption since the middle of this past year that we would see new boxes in the market for Christmas of 2012," our source commented.
Perhaps with CES taking place in a few days, we'll be able to gain further hints/insights from either ATI or Nvidia. That said, we're still somewhat skeptical that all three manufacturers - Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony - are actually going to be launching at the same time.
Obviously Nintendo is moving ahead with Wii U, but the respective timing for Microsoft and Sony is still very much up in the air. Nevertheless, we can see how there's a bit of a domino effect taking place here. Microsoft may want to keep its edge with Xbox and Kinect and doesn't want Wii U to grab a spotlight, and at the same time, Sony doesn't want to be beaten to market yet again if they can help it. PlayStation Europe head Jim Ryan even said as much speaking to Eurogamer back in November.
