Microsoft: Xbox 360 Has More Than Two Years Left

Microsoft Studios head Phil Spencer is optimistic that the Xbox 360 still has several years ahead of it. He expects the console to stick around through 2014 and beyond.

"Microsoft entered this space with the original Xbox 11 years ago, and we're committed for the long-term," Spencer told GameSpot. "The nice thing about the Xbox 360 right now is--if you look--we're the number one console globally. We're able to bring in new content and still support the best of the core games."

Spencer points out that Microsoft is continuing to improve the console. For example, an app called Xbox SmartGlass coming this holiday season will allow players to use their mobile devices as controllers for their Xbox 360.

"Right now the Xbox 360 is really healthy and it's doing incredibly well. I think the 360 has a lot more than two years [left]. It has legs for a long time."

This doesn't mean we shouldn't expect the Xbox 360's successor to arrive next year as rumored. It seems more likely that Microsoft will simply keep supporting the 360 even once this new console debuts, sort of like how Sony still manufactures the PS2 six years after the PS3's launch. As Spencer even says in the interview, the "one console" mindset has to change.

I'm glad to hear the Microsoft won't simply forget the Xbox 360 once the Xbox 720 (or whatever) launches. They pretty much just shit-canned Xbox Original once the 360 arrived, which wasn't really fair to the gamers who had spent money on the older console and weren't willing to shell out a few hundred more to buy its successor at launch. With any luck, the Xbox 360 will have a long life as the cheaper alternative to its successor.