The latest industry rumblings have suggested that Sony and Microsoft won’t be releasing any new platforms until 2014.
As reported by Kotaku, various sources have come out of the woodwork claiming that the platform holders are keen on keeping PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in the limelight for at least another couple of years.
That’s despite rumors of Nintendo looking to lift the wraps off the successor to its hugely successful Wii console at this year’s E3 Expo in June.
One source stated, "Both MS and Sony are telegraphing to each other that they’re delaying, to milk the current [generation] and fill in previous craters better.”
Industry whispers suggest a 2014 launch for a potential PlayStation 4 and Xbox 720, though it is possible both platforms may be released a year earlier if Sony and Microsoft ‘feel pushed.’
Meanwhile, another source notes that if Microsoft were to launch fresh hardware in 2013, it is unlikely to be anything more than a Kinect-enabled Xbox 360 as opposed to a fully-fledged next-gen platform.
Industry analyst Billy Pidgeon also chipped in on the subject, noting that "we’ll see a game of chicken between Sony and Microsoft," and believes "Sony definitely isn’t launching a successor before 2014 and could stand to benefit by having Microsoft launch first as PS3 builds in to North America and builds a strong position in Europe."
"Microsoft claims there’s a lot more room in Xbox 360 for developers to max out, but here PS3 could have a strong advantage,” offered Pidgeon.
Some developers have already admitted that they are ready to embrace the next-generation of gaming platforms, most notably Crytek and DICE, the teams responsible for Crysis and Battlefield, respectively.