14 DAY TRIAL // The Xbox 360 home console managed to beat both the PlayStation 3 from Sony and the Nintendo Wii when it comes to overall sales in the United States during 2011, and Microsoft has even bigger plans for its gaming platform for this year.
Steve Beinner, the director of marketing for first-party games working at Microsoft, has told Gamasutra that “2011 was our biggest year -- the biggest year in Xbox history. So we're feeling fantastic. We want to continue to build on that momentum. Without a doubt, I can tell you that 2012 can be a bigger year, and will be a bigger year, than 2011.”
The year will be defined by the launch of both exclusive titles, like the 343 Industries developed Halo 4, which is expected during the fall, and multiplatform games, like the soon-to-be-out Mass Effect 3 from BioWare and Electronic Arts.
Beinner added, “We look forward to continuing to build on the momentum we have and continue the strategies we have.”
The executive said that the Xbox 360 had a lot of life left in it and suggested that more exclusive games would be revealed later in the year.
For some time rumors have been popping up to suggest that Microsoft is ready to unveil a new home console at this year’s E3 trade event in June.
Suggestions include a device which will include a more developed version of the Kinect motion tracking system and a platform which will be unable to play second hand titles.
Microsoft is also eager to push more content through the Xbox Live service, making sure that it is easy for players to contact their friends and play together.
Beinner also suggested that it could extend franchises with downlodable content, as it recently did with the launch of Alan Wake: American Nightmare.