Internal Memo Reveals Plans for Xbox 360 in 2008

This here internal memo written by Microsoft games chief Don Mattrick to his PR staff for CES 2008 is something that Dean Takahashi (of the San Jose Mercury News) managed to get his hands on and print it in full on his Tech Talk Blog. The memo reveals a bunch of plans for 2008, including more HD content for XBLM Video Store, and Xbox 360 exclusives such as Halo Wars, Too Human, Fable 2, Alan Wake, Splinter Cell: Conviction, and other yet-to-be announced titles.

Here's how Don Mattrick starts off his lengthy memo:

"While final sales numbers are still being collected, consumers in North America have spent over $3.5 billion dollars on Xbox 360 hardware, software and accessories. That's $1 billion more than consumers spent on the Wii, and $2 billion more than the PS3. When December data is added, we expect Xbox 360 in 2007 to have generated more calendar year revenue than any other gaming platform ever, including PS2 at its peak."

Mattrick proudly presents his "troops" (as Takahashi likes to joke) with the facts: "Xbox 360 titles have received the highest average review scores this generation according to Metacritic, with the majority of cross-platform titles posting higher review scores on Xbox 360 than PS3. [...] When you look at the best-reviewed games, consumers will find that Xbox 360 has more than double the number of titles (81) with a Metacritic score of 80 or higher than PS3 (40), and six times more than the Wii (13)."

As far as 2008 is concerned, EA's president plans to continue with "exclusives including 'Halo Wars,' 'Too Human,' 'Fable 2,' 'Alan Wake,' 'Splinter Cell: Conviction,' and several exciting yet-to-be-announced titles" adding that "Xbox 360 will be home to the next versions of great franchises like Grand Theft Auto and Resident Evil, and we will continue to be the leading choice for sports fans, with the next editions of Madden and FIFA looking and playing better on our platform."

Xbox LIVE Marketplace isn't left aside either, with new HD content being planned for the service's Video Store, in light of Microsoft's new agreement with the Disney-ABC Television Group. Here's the full piece up on Takahashi's blog. Have a look.