Harrison: Eight-year console cycle was ‘just right’

Microsoft has dismissed complaints that eight years was too long between Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

Ubisoft and EA have told MCV this year that they felt the console cycle had lasted too long and said they would rather a five to six year gap moving forward.

But Xbox VP Phil Harrison told MCV that if they had released Xbox One three years ago, it would not be as powerful as it is today.

Eight years is actually the right time,” he said?in an new interview on page 16.

Xbox 360 continues to grow, over 80m units and counting. And the underlying silicon chip design innovations that allow Xbox One to be what it is, didn’t reach the performance level and price point that we needed until right now. So if we had come out three years ago with a new console, it would not be to the same degree of performance or price that we have now.

And Xbox 360 had seven years of growth which I think is a record for a console.”