Microsoft Not Bothered by PS3 Launch

Company says supply problems are ending and good games are coming. Ken & Co beware.

In November Sony will, if things go to plan, globally release the eagerly awaited and recently delayed PlayStation 3 - successor to the current console race leader. You would think that Microsoft, which has been enjoying its time alone in the next generation with Xbox 360 since last November, would be hatching plans and preparing wrenches, but that's not the case.

"I have a philosophy," says Microsoft's Shane Kim, speaking to Official Xbox Magazine this week, "Leaders don't react."

"For us, it doesn't change anything. We've had a very clear strategy for a long time now and we're not going to change that. We're not going to react to anything that they do. We know what we're doing, we'll be in full supply shortly, we've got great content on the way, and we've got fantastic third-party support."

"If Sony happens to stumble - and we know first-hand that there are a lot of challenges in a worldwide launch - then we'll be in an incredibly strong position to take advantage."

Microsoft knows those challenges all too well. The company tripped while trying to launch the Xbox 360 near-simultaneously last year, but it has been working hard to ramp up production to sate demand. Microsoft is "well on track" to hit its 4.5-5 million target for sales of the system by June, but even this might not be enough to see off Sony, says Kim:

"I am confident that we'll have a loyal and significant installed base [by November]. What I'm less confident about is that we'll win. I think that's the kind of call you can only make when the time is right."

Rare's Viva Piñnata aimed at families

One big gap in the Xbox 360's repertoire is kid-friendly fare, but Rare's recently revealed Viva Piñata should change that. The game, which sees you building a living garden to attract the exploding animals, is being propped up as Microsoft's appeal to families.

"Viva Piñata is the kind of product that will help us drive Xbox 360 console sales into the younger, more casual sector of the audience. In the same way that Halo made people buy an Xbox, I believe that families will buy an Xbox 360 because they want to play Viva Piñata."

Microsoft does have a few more aces in the hole, with one standout in particular: Halo 3.

Getting Master Chief's third outing on Xbox 360 out around the same time as the launch of the PlayStation 3 would give pause to many hardcore gamers, the typical early adopter. Rumours have flared up again recently that Microsoft will do just this, but Kim refuses to be baited:

"We'll be talking about anything we're doing in the Halo universe - whether that's the mythical Halo 3 as I call it or anything else - at the right time and that time will be soon."

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games