Microsoft France Says No New Xbox For 2012

No new gaming console for you. At least that’s what the French arm of Microsoft has to say regarding speculation of a new Xbox releasing later this year.

Xbox 720 Not In 2012 Image

The mountain of scuttlebutt about the potential announcement of a new gaming machine from Microsoft has reached such fevered heights over the past few weeks, that it has caused an unlikely source to speak out against the piling rumors, and try to nip it in the “figurative” butt. That unlikely source would be Microsoft France marketing director Cedrick Delmas, who told the French news site Le Point that there would be *no* new Xbox for 2012.

That’s pretty much the “To Long; Didn’t Read” summary of Delmas’s answer, of course — here’s the actual full quote from his interview, as translated by Eurogamer:

“We’re in an industry that talks a lot, that likes telling stories. I am not convinced that things will happen this year. The Xbox 360’s cycle is not over at all. The proof is that we haven’t price cut this year. Afterward, what will happen at E3, it’s still too early to say. What’s certain is that there will be nothing new in 2012.”

Godspeed, Mr. Delmas, because I know – and certainly you should too readers – is that when it comes to the Internet, a simple-to-understand deny won’t end forum chatter at all. Heck no, Alamo.

Although, for those of us without our tin-foil hats on, Delmas’s statement is directly in line with what other knowledgeable industry annalists have been saying for quite a while: no new consoles, be it Microsoft or even Sony, until after this year. Likely, Fall 2013 at the earliest for the next Xbox, and this is just my take on things, early-to-mid 2014 for the PlayStation 4.

This isn’t to say that I’m extremely chopping at the dinner plate for a new video game system anytime soon — neither is my wallet. Did you guys not see how unbelievably good Uncharted 3 looked on the PlayStation 3? Well, it was! So pardon little ole’ me if I’ll just sit back here in my comfy corner and be perfectly content with the current sea of games available on the current set of hardware.

I’ll also be perfectly content with “The Simpsons” theme being song awesomely in a capella, or this fantastic fan-made trailer for The Legend of Zelda: The Lost Oracle. Sadly no, the game isn’t real, but it sure would be nice if it were. Hint, hint, Nintendo.