CES: No need for new Xbox, says Microsoft

Senior director of Xbox product management, David Hufford, has shed more light on the company’s attitude towards the will-they won’t-they new console debate which, as we move into 2010, is becoming hotter than ever.

“I think it’s important to say that the Xbox 360 is the console of the long future for us,” he 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.”

He continued: “The Xbox 360 was designed for a long life, and I don’t even know if we’re at the midpoint yet.”

Aside from Natal, Hufford also pointed to the rise of 3D gaming as an example of new directions being taken by the hardware.

“Avatar is on Xbox and we have a 3D game, Scrap Metal, in our booth right now,” he said.

Our only comment here would be that Avatar’s not actually very good, and Scrap Metal’s brand of blue-and-red glasses 3D is more a retro novelty than anything truly progressive. Still, Natal for the win. Probably. Maybe. When we see a bit more of it, anyway.

However things turn out specifically, it’s encouraging to hear that our favourite format is now officially here to stay and, if the “half way” statement turns out to be true, we can look forward to at least another five years of Xbox 360ing.