Microsoft's (MSFT) Next Xbox Could Offer Solid-State Drive
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Price: $408.98 +0.35%
Overall Analyst Rating:
BUY (= Flat)
Dividend Yield: 0.7%
EPS Growth %: +15.1%
Overall Analyst Rating:
BUY (= Flat)
Dividend Yield: 0.7%
EPS Growth %: +15.1%
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Evidently, gaming discs are going to be yesteday's news.
Reports out Friday have Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) telling developers that its next Xbox console will not include a disc drive. Instead, the next Xbox will include a solid-state card storage system, which will be interchangeable. Whether or not Microsoft will make its own proprietary drive or use an industry standard like SD wasn't disclosed.
Solid drive disk makers in the market include: OCZ Technology (NYSE: OCZ), STEC, Inc. (Nasdaq: STEC), Fusion-io (NYSE: FIO), Micron (NYSE: MU), Seagate (NYSE: STX), SanDisk (Nasdaq: SNDK), and Western Digital (NYSE: WDC), among others.
The next Xbox has also been affirmed for a 2013 launch, according to gaming blog mcvuk.com. Though it hasn't issued a formal comment, Microsoft sent MCV an sterilized email, stating, "Xbox 360 has found new ways to extend its life-cycle like introducing the world to controller-free experiences with Kinect and re-inventing the console with a new dashboard and new entertainment content partnerships. We are always thinking about what is next for our platform and how to continue to defy the life-cycle convention. Beyond that we do not comment on rumors or speculation."
What this means for the retail gaming sector is unknown. With platforms becoming more digital, the need for physical locations will surely diminish. Stores like GameStop (NYSE: GME) and, to a lesser extent, Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) will need to start thinking about how to monetize from digital content...maybe specialized apps or stronger pushes into membership programs.
Microsoft shares are about flat on the session Friday, amid AMAZING JOBS DATA AND GREEK DEBT NEWS.
Reports out Friday have Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) telling developers that its next Xbox console will not include a disc drive. Instead, the next Xbox will include a solid-state card storage system, which will be interchangeable. Whether or not Microsoft will make its own proprietary drive or use an industry standard like SD wasn't disclosed.
Solid drive disk makers in the market include: OCZ Technology (NYSE: OCZ), STEC, Inc. (Nasdaq: STEC), Fusion-io (NYSE: FIO), Micron (NYSE: MU), Seagate (NYSE: STX), SanDisk (Nasdaq: SNDK), and Western Digital (NYSE: WDC), among others.
The next Xbox has also been affirmed for a 2013 launch, according to gaming blog mcvuk.com. Though it hasn't issued a formal comment, Microsoft sent MCV an sterilized email, stating, "Xbox 360 has found new ways to extend its life-cycle like introducing the world to controller-free experiences with Kinect and re-inventing the console with a new dashboard and new entertainment content partnerships. We are always thinking about what is next for our platform and how to continue to defy the life-cycle convention. Beyond that we do not comment on rumors or speculation."
What this means for the retail gaming sector is unknown. With platforms becoming more digital, the need for physical locations will surely diminish. Stores like GameStop (NYSE: GME) and, to a lesser extent, Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) will need to start thinking about how to monetize from digital content...maybe specialized apps or stronger pushes into membership programs.
Microsoft shares are about flat on the session Friday, amid AMAZING JOBS DATA AND GREEK DEBT NEWS.
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