Xbox 2 could triumph, says expert

30% share predicted as name conjecture mounts

EB Games CEO Jeff Griffiths has told attendees at last week's Piper Jaffray conference that given the right set of circumstances, Microsoft's Xbox successor could triumph in the forthcoming next-generation console show-down. Griffiths told the gathered masses at the consumer conference that if Microsoft can launch ahead of the PS3, and offer exclusive titles "like Sony had for the PS2", then Microsoft has "the potential for market share leadership".

The 'Next' Xbox (or Xbox 2..) is currently expected to launch in late 2005 - with the PS3 arriving in 2006 - giving Redmond the perfect platform from which to steal ahead, in theory. Griffiths also stated that Microsoft could quite easily acquire a 30% share of the future market, and would probably be disappointed if this target was not met; especially given the massive war chest the company is expected to devote to marketing the next machine.

In related news elsewhere, a variety of names suggested as possibles for the next iteration of the Xbox have been sent to gamers and 1UP readers as part of a survey exploring the various naming options available. The names "being considered for the next-generation Xbox" mooted are as follows: Xbox 247, Xbox 360, Xbox 2, Xbox E, Xbox EV, Xbox FS, Xbox HD and Xbox NE. All of which sound unlikely to us, apart from 'Xbox 2', of course.

By Luke Guttridge