A prominent industry analyst has confirmed that Microsoft may delay the launch of its next-gen Xbox 720 console to accommodate “overwhelming” demand.
The latest assessment by Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter coincides with earlier reports that Redmond is experiencing issues with its Xbox 720 “Oban” chip yields, which SemiAccurate’s Charlie Demerjian described as “painfully” low.
“We have heard no word yet from Microsoft or Sony about their plans to launch new consoles, but both manufacturers are widely expected to launch consoles by year-end 2013,” Pachter wrote in an industry note obtained by CVG.
”[However], we believe that Microsoft could delay a new console launch until spring of 2014 in order to accommodate what is certain to be overwhelming demand among hardcore gamers.”
Meanwhile, GameStop CEO Paul Raines said he doesn’t expected both the Xbox 720 and PS4 to launch in 2013.
“I’m getting a lot of rumors that are very interesting about 2013,” said Raines.
“We have not been expecting two more consoles in 2013. We’re expecting Wii U this holiday, another one next year, and another one in ’14. These rumors change every week, but we’re hearing more about next year.”
It should be noted that Nintendo is slated to host a Wii U-focused press event in New York City on September 13, at which a Wii U release date announcement is expected. In the meantime, various reports indicate Nintendo’s Wii may be hitting the streets as early as November 2012.
