Next-gen victor won't be revealed until 2007, says Gates

"Microsoft chairman suggests

As US consumers continue to snap up Xbox 360s following the console's launch on November 22, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has suggested that the ultimate victor in the console wars won't be decided until 2007.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Gates claimed that the software giant's second attempt at capturing the videogame console market is spearheaded by "the hottest product we've ever had."

The original Xbox console, which launched after Sony's PlayStation 2, failed to gain the market dominance Microsoft had hoped for - picking up just 18 per cent of the console market. Although considerable investment in the console did result in marked increases in the installed customer base, the Xbox has consistently remained in Sony's shadow.

Microsoft's ambitious tri-continent launch strategy - which will see the Xbox 360 hit Europe on December 2 and Japan on December 10 - will certainly give Microsoft a head start on its rivals this time around, but according to Gates, it hasn't been an easy process.

"For the last six months, we've been on the edge of our seats. I hope I don't get an e-mail saying 'Gosh, processor yields are too low, or this plastic factory burned down in Malaysia, so we'll have boxes but no controllers.'"" [more]