Microsoft: We're Going to Beat Sony

Sony may have a massive lead in this generation, but Microsoft says it can take Sony in the next. Inflammatory quotes inside.

As spring approaches, so does the launch of Sony's much-hyped PlayStation 3. Despite giant question marks and reluctance on the company's part to get specific, the hype is building. But Microsoft is not afraid.

Company president Steve Ballmer recently went on the offensive in defense of his new console. In an interview with Investor's Business Daily, he focussed on Sony's sidestepping and talked up the hard-to-get Xbox 360.

When asked how things will be once the PlayStation 3 is out, Ballmer said that there will still "a lot of questions" to be answered:

"Nobody knows what PlayStation 3 is, so it's a little hard for me to answer the question. And nobody knows when PlayStation 3 is going to come. The rumours are it will come out in the spring, but only in Japan. And nobody knows what PlayStation 3 is going to cost."

"PlayStation 3 has a [Blu-ray] drive built in, so who knows what the heck they're going to charge for the thing, because those are very expensive drives. Who the heck knows what the games are going to look like for PlayStation 3?"

Ballmer is not alone in asking these questions. As the planned launch approaches, many observers are wondering when Sony is going to stop pussyfooting and get down to the nitty-gritty with solid details.

With the Xbox, Microsoft's ace in the hole was Xbox Live, and the updated version for Xbox 360 looks to be key in the company's game plan. Online is also an area where Sony has been especially quiet.

"Sony has no strategy for an online service," Ballmer said.

Despite missing its own target of 3 million consoles sold in the first 90 days and largely failing to make much of a splash in Japan, Ballmer still called the launch "phenomenal" and said that with an expected 4.5-5 million console sold by June, the Xbox 360 should be able to give Sony a run:

"I'm not sure we're going to beat Sony in Japan this generation. Maybe. But we're going to beat Sony [overall]. We're off to a very good start."

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games