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Gates: Halo 3 not countering PS3 launch

Microsoft chairman says "super great" shooter won't release until Bungie's say-so, Sony will have own supply woes for PS3 launch.

Each year, the Consumer Electronics Show is used as a forum for companies to show off the hottest products of tomorrow. One mainstay of the show that's always good for an industry-shaking announcement or two is software giant Microsoft. The company's chief, Bill Gates, always maintains a large presence at the show, and this year was no different.

In an interview with tech blog Engadget, Gates talked about the widespread shortages of available Xbox 360s in North America, echoing words spoken by Peter Moore, corporate vice president of Microsoft's entertainment division.

"The demand was phenomenal, and we did add Celestica as a third manufacturing partner," Gates said. "We think by the time we get to the 4.5 to 5.5 million unit level [in June] that the backlog won't be all that substantial. So obviously it's a good news situation, but we want to meet all the demand."

Despite what some would call a "shaky" launch, Gates remains chipper about the Xbox 360's first 50 days. "Well, you know, we're already successful. I mean, we're the hottest product there was at Christmas this year. I don't think there's any doubt we'll have a substantially higher share in this generation than we had last generation."

Obviously, the console's "substantially higher share" is largely dependent on its software library, and no other title will push more 360s out the door than Halo 3. At 2005's E3, Gates was quoted by Time magazine as saying that Halo 3 would be released at the same time as Sony's PlayStation 3, which is due later this year. Execs at Microsoft and developers at Bungie both scratched their heads at the statement, with Microsoft's president of the entertainment and devices division, Robbie Bach, bluntly saying, "Halo 3 is something that we'll ship when it's ready."

Gates admitted that his statement may have been premature. "It's up to the team [at Bungie] when they want to ship [Halo 3], and they're going to take their time to make that a super great product," Gates told Engadget. "So even we don't know when that will come out." Gates' comments already have industry pundits predicting that the game will likely now launch either in November, as have previous Halos, or around the premiere of the Halo movie in summer 2007.

With gaming consoles on the verge of transforming into "must-have" multimedia powerhouses, the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 have made it known that their aim is to appeal to a broader audience.

"This is a business we're committed to, so we're just going to keep doing our best. We actually think the size of the market will grow quite a bit because of the idea that we've got music and photo capability, we've got this Arcade thing to appeal to different age groups, and we're going to get a better breadth of games this time, so we think the overall total units between us and our competitor will actually be quite a bit bigger this time around than it was last time, and that's good for all of us," said Gates.

As for the PS3's launch, Gates sees Sony having similar issues that hung over the debut of the 360. "[Sony] will have a year where they're supply-constrained, most likely, unless the thing is a complete flop. I mean, every video game [system] that [sells] decently at all is supply-constrained for its first year," Gates told USA Today. "We'll actually have shipped over 5 million [Xbox 360s] before anyone else comes into the market."

237 Comments

  • s0ild_snake

    Posted Jan 15, 2007 8:16 am GMT

    nise

  • FlashNovice

    Posted Aug 22, 2006 6:11 am GMT

    GO HALO 3!!!!!!!!
    Take as long as you want bungie, we can wait

  • spchamp1

    Posted Jul 7, 2006 8:05 pm GMT

    Here is what is going to happen to the PS3 and XBOX 360 this holiday season. The PS3 demand will be so high, and Sony will not have enough supply to satisfy the demand. So those parents that were going to get their children a PS3 will see 360's on the shelf and will see that 1) it is roughly $100 cheaper, and the Best Buy employee will tell them that Gears of War just came out and is a MUST HAVE game. The parent will then get their child an XBOX 360.

  • DaleJrFanFreak

    Posted Feb 1, 2006 12:40 pm GMT

    Sony will have Blu Ray in which just one layer is nearly 5 times larger than a regular dvd. FIVE TIMES! It is also larger than HD-DVD. Just the idea of having a disc that is so large means you will probably be able to put more "game" on the disc. I've played a 360 before and it's not really all that amazing (perhaps the demo of Call of Duty 2 isn't as impressive as the game?). Sure the graphics are better but I see the same stuff out on pc's. When I played Call of Duty 2 demo I wasn't stunned or anything. Which is my big worry about the PS3....if it's not as good looking as it was in the videos from E3 then I think it'll be a waste of my money. However, we all have seen the Metal Gear Solid 4 trailer and if Hideo was telling the truth about it being real time, then I am dead set on getting a PS3 before a 360. Halo and Metal Gear just so happen to be ONE game for one system. Don't forget that so far the PS3 lineup looks to be quite stunning. You can only play a game so long before it gets old. Halo 3 may come out the day of the PS3 release, but the lines for a Playstation will be much longer.

  • sizzlingdviper

    Posted Jan 19, 2006 3:46 pm GMT

    I'm a proud owner of a 360.But it does worry me that Sonys PS3 will come with Blu-Ray as standard,and if this really takes off,then I can see the 360 becoming Next Gen Dreamcast!!!

  • risi37

    Posted Jan 19, 2006 3:41 pm GMT

    what a lazy paln bill gates when he plans to let out the halo 3 in the same date of ps3.... i dont think that would work he is thinking of putting down the costumers of buying the ps3 for what to buy hallo3 no way is going to work that plan the ps3 will eat all even if microsoft puts out the hallo4,5,6 at the same time .

  • gtafreak621

    Posted Jan 18, 2006 3:01 pm GMT

    O god... If one of my friends buys a 360 just for a mediocre game like Halo 3... Im going to hit them.... Hard.

    Not that im saying I dont like the 360, but If Halo 3 is anything like Halo 2 was... we are all in trouble...

    Im still wanting to shoot myself for buying a 2 hour game for 50 bucks. (plus like 4 on xboxLive before it got extremely boring...)

    Please explain to me why you love Halo2 on Xbox Live so much, id much rather be playing something like Ninja gaiden black or San Andreas or Twilight Princess (If it was out now....)

    OO wait... what am I thinking... Putting a playstation 2 game up as something I'd rather be playing will rile up all you M$ fans fo' sho'

    even if it was 100 times better than halo and halo2 combined. (because it was basically like the same game!!!) AHAHAHAHAHAA so you cant say anything about it... BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURNNNED!!!!
    INCINERATION!!! you are the insult master!!!

  • lozandier

    Posted Jan 17, 2006 10:34 pm GMT

    I'm not really a gamer that plays Halo, but whoever said DOOM, Operation Flashpoints and, Battlefield 1942, and Goldeneye (If you talking about the EA VERSIONS, Its HECK OF A NO not a better FPS than Halo, but if you talking about the Rare one, I can somewhat accept that.) Doom 3 is a good game, but just wasn't that good, it was all graphics, not much substance. Operation Flashpoint... NO. Battlefield 1942.... Close Argument but NO.

    FEAR is heck of a better but think how long it is from Halo & Halo's Release; They have plenty of time to beat it in all aspects of gaming . I haven't honestly never played System Shock Two more than Ten Minutes So I can't judge it but it's a good game. As for Sony and a shortage, of course it's unlikely because SONY KNOWS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WANT THAT THING. I wouldn't be surprised if they did change their release date so they can make adequate number of PS3's so The same thing that happened to Xbox 360 won't happen to them. One of the many advantages of coming out second/ after the first next gen console can bring you, learn from their mistakes. Microsoft had a shortage simply by trying to make the system come out in 2005; If you haven't heard, they even rushed their Proclaimed Flagship Title Perfect Dark Zero before it could be tested for bugs/ errors. Risking tons of copies bugged and what would happen if that DID happpen.

    As for some of you EVERY SYSTEM LAUNCH HAS HAD DEFECTS. PS3, REVO ANY NEW SYSTEM WILL HAVE THE SAME. I think people think the brand name Microsoft insures perfect quality. WAIT TILL THE OTHERS COME OUT AND HOW MANY OF PROBAB THE SAME PEOPLE BLAB AND CURSE OF HAVING A DEFECT SYSTEM. THIS IS A PRO AND CON OF BUYING ANY SYSTEM IN ITS LAUNCH CYCLE. SO PLEASE SHUT UP ABOUT XBOX 360 BEING A "DEFECTIVE" SYSTEM AS THOUGH IT'S THE ONLY SYSTEM WITH DEFECTS. Media just overcoverage the Xbox 360 esp. in this aspect because its' importance to the gaming world with next gen possibilites.

  • KingKrisis

    Posted Jan 17, 2006 2:52 pm GMT

    " Halo 3 would be released at the same time as Sony's PlayStation 3 " completely irrelavant. Halo 3's release will certainly not effect the Playstation 3's launch , why you ask? Because only a slight majority of 360 owners will purchase Halo 3..it will not effect in anyway or form the people who plan on buying a Playstation 3.

    I really wish there was a (fanboy filter)

  • Sandman100

    Posted Jan 17, 2006 1:38 pm GMT

    Know seen the PS3 is expected to launch in the Fall. Halo 3 could still counter the PS3 launch.

  • Hero_of_Time82

    Posted Jan 17, 2006 9:14 am GMT

    Wow.... I didn't see that one coming.... LAME

  • rwnummelin

    Posted Jan 17, 2006 4:17 am GMT

    JESUS!!! I'm tired of all these speculations. When will PS3 come? When will Revolution come? etc, etc, etc. And now, when will the damn games come out and to witch system?? PLEASE!!

    Sony says that PS3 launch will be when they feel they're ready.
    Same with Nintendo. Halo 3, SAME THING!!!
    I can't say I care mutch about 360 or Halo, but there are people that do so quit this childish behaviour.

    There's one bad thing I'd like to say about the 360:
    If the HD-DVD 360 ever comes out it means HD-DVD games.... What about the current owners of 360? (think about it)

    And now the argument has come to the point that people start making their own ideas of the future, it becomes a rumor and finally people start believing it.
    Ex: Final Fantasy on 360...
    There's 1 (ONE) FF due to release on 360, and that's FFXI witch is already a muti-platform game. It's getting old and you really don't need a 360 to play it.
    You find FF on GC too (nobody seem to notice) and a sequel due for Revolution. These are all "sideshows" (couldn't find better word) that have little or nothing to do with the original series.

  • jrhawk42

    Posted Jan 17, 2006 4:13 am GMT

    If anything Gates would want to release Halo 3 way before PS3's launch. PS3 will sell out, and a lot of gamers will have saved up for a ps3 but not be able to buy one. Obviously some of these gamers will go ahead and buy a 360 if it has a great title like halo 3. I don't really see Halo 3 launching this year though unless bungie is deciding not to release any info on the game till it is ready for launch. Once halo 3 is launch expect hardcore gamer, and xbox fan boy to buy a 360 that hasn't already. Considering that Halo 2 sold 340,000 copys in the first 6 days, I don't expect halo 3 to do nearly as good, but it will lead to a significant spike in 360 console sales.

    Anyway microsoft has come up with alot of good ideas for the 360. For example turning the system on with the controller is such an awesome, and simple idea. Also the live market place is a genious idea for getting game demo's released in mass quanity. The market place also gives small time game developers a larger distribution circle for a lower cost. I wouldn't be surprised if several new types of games, and gaming companies pop up because of this.

  • abhishek_maniac

    Posted Jan 17, 2006 4:07 am GMT

    PS3!!!!!!!!!VS!!!!!!!HALO3 LOL!!!!!!

  • thor107

    Posted Jan 17, 2006 3:49 am GMT

    Hey Knight go back to school and work on your grammar. Does anyone on this site know what spell check is????

  • knightofflame

    Posted Jan 16, 2006 10:07 pm GMT

    Gates....stop making games and console , make ur window better !!!!
    When window xp came out few years ago , it was once perfect but today , its already become full of security holes and virus worms all kinds of sh!ts are everywhere and u can even got it anytime . I hope Vista will be better than Xp .

    What you want gates ? Everything ? U want to dominate everything huh ??

  • foodsgoods

    Posted Jan 16, 2006 9:26 pm GMT

    omg you all really are n00bs. doesn't anyone realize that competition is what drives the industry. so basically if microsoft does well then sony will step it up to top them which will produce better systems and games. and vice versa. which is what consumers want right? there is no reason to dis other companies just because you dont' like them. for example i don't like nintendo that much, but i still want them to do well so every other company is pressured to do better. 1 companies success= everyone's succes.

  • ShadowFayt

    Posted Jan 16, 2006 8:31 pm GMT

    how bout this.. the 360 is microsoft's 2nd console, the ps3 is sony's 3rd, i think that sony handled the ps2 launch pretty damn well

  • andrewtyen

    Posted Jan 16, 2006 7:55 pm GMT

    all the hype...

  • one-ring

    Posted Jan 16, 2006 7:50 pm GMT

    to think halo 3 and ps3 on the exact same day. stores would have lines extending out into highways. "a super great product" lol gates sounds like one of those guys on a home sale channel. ps2 sold more in 1 day than any other console to date. 360 came out, and there was a massive shortage already. and then PSP was being sold like crazy. a nearby wal-mart had boxes taken out from its storage to sell them all. i saw about 2 360s sold. was in the electronics section for a while just trying to reach a few games and pay for them. final fantasy 12 is coming out late this year for ps2 and you just know there's going to be a killer from that. then ps3 not long after or before. PSP, final fantasy 12, and ps3 combined are going to pwn 360 out of it's retarded design. it's almost as boring as the design of the gamecube. "We'll actually have shipped over 5 million [Xbox 360s] before anyone else comes into the market." that's because bill gates is the richest mother @!#$er that ever lived.

  • thor107

    Posted Jan 16, 2006 6:28 pm GMT

    I doubt PS3 is even going to ship to north america this year so microsoft is in no rush to put Halo3 out. Besides Bungie rivals even Rare when it comes to development cycles.

  • MetaRidley42

    Posted Jan 16, 2006 5:37 pm GMT

    Super Great!

  • dengue_metal

    Posted Jan 16, 2006 5:11 pm GMT

    ocdog45 wrote:

    "just ask your self...how many people will be at the store to pick up the PS3 and Halo 3. that would be a great to see."

    I'm thinking like 50 for PS3 and like 2 for Halo 3.

  • sinceps1

    Posted Jan 16, 2006 4:57 pm GMT

    good suggestion u astute personage.

  • Mitrix

    Posted Jan 16, 2006 4:14 pm GMT

    mastergamerjohn i think you should put down the gaming controller and lift up a book and start working on your grammar.

  • mastergamerjohn

    Posted Jan 16, 2006 3:55 pm GMT

    Im Glad they are because they need it to make this game super great and the best game has came out for the Xbox 360 thank of it I'v herd that its going to have 32 players online and just thank of the levels DAMN !!!!! the levels are going to be huge and badass i know it will lol but yeah more time more the better its going to be I HOPE THEY PUT IN A ATV VERILCIE in i want one so bad in the game plece put a ATV ATV oh yeah that could be the human ghost hahahahahaahahhah .lol

  • mastergamerjohn

    Posted Jan 16, 2006 3:55 pm GMT

    Im Glad they are because they need it to make this game super great and the best game has came out for the Xbox 360 thank of it I'v herd that its going to have 32 players online and just thank of the levels DAMN !!!!! the levels are going to be huge and badass i know it will lol but yeah more time more the better its going to be I HOPE THEY PUT IN A ATV VERILCIE in i want one so bad in the game plece put a ATV ATV oh yeah that could be the human ghost hahahahahaahahhah .lol

  • Jab_Jackal

    Posted Jan 16, 2006 3:38 pm GMT

    Yippee Halo 2, ..no 3 woops. Well whatever halo 2 didnt really count anyways it sucked.

  • ocdog45

    Posted Jan 16, 2006 1:21 pm GMT

    just ask your self...how many people will be at the store to pick up the PS3 and Halo 3. that would be a great to see.

  • Maquis_UK

    Posted Jan 15, 2006 6:52 pm GMT

    thats the sound of micro$haft quaking in their boots ( see: Blu-ray for further example ) -- Nintendo fanboys rock on! 360 and m$ are teh whiney losers

  • bowser0077

    Posted Jan 15, 2006 12:20 pm GMT

    I vote they make a Halo 3 bundle pack!

    PS. Jason if you don't like 360 then leave we don't need Nintendo fanboys here right now

  • mardigrasmorgan

    Posted Jan 15, 2006 11:47 am GMT

    these guys are clueless... it's rather funny actually....

  • JasonQ87

    Posted Jan 15, 2006 2:23 am GMT

    Heh heh heh

    Even if Halo 3 comes out for XBox 360, I'm still not going to buy that piece of crap console.

    Have a nice day.

  • mezonesxbox

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 2:16 pm GMT



    I think Halo 3 will come out as a bundle pack including the xbox 360!! At an incredible Price! If this is the case, count me in! The PS3 will totally suck because most of its games wil be like current generation at first, then halo 3 will be totally NEXT GEN with the almost 3yrs in development. Most of the time in Halo 3 has been devoted to make it next gen, the actual story took about 1yr or so and the rest are all in making it NEXT Gen. This will Kick PS3's but. Ps3 developers have barely started on working with the PS3, word has it that they just received their development kits after christmas. Their you have it, go figure. = Ps3 sucks : P

  • miiiguel

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 12:31 pm GMT

    gamegirl: you're right PS is 10 years old, PS2 is 6 years old, sorry me, it's really a modern device

  • miiiguel

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 12:23 pm GMT

    Gamegirl: no problem with the PS's, I have them all, and I'll buy a PS3 as well, but I have no problem with X360, I bought it and I use it a lot, you the one that "hates". I love them all!!!!

  • DTW-Dirty_Harry

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 11:14 am GMT

    Hey Digital-Devil, I presume Gates said "super great" in an attempt to communicate with those who are feeble minded. People such as yourself that is.

  • saturos

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 10:22 am GMT

    Hell with 360 they shouldn't fake a shortage of Xboxs i mean if you work at lets say walmart or target then u know that they have merchandise mabey a in stock for a month before release date. I go to target and they say oh well we may be getting "three" Xboxs in tommorow oh and people have them reserved. And i say wtf is the point of a shipment of 3 xboxs... so MS they are probly just like DERR DERR DERRRRRR DO NOT RELEASE MORE THEN 3 XBOXS WITHIN 2 WEEKS. Shiot i love my xbox but i hate stupid attention seeking autistic people..so ill say i have a money shortage till they have a price drop, yea smoking! bwuhahaha! PS3 show me the light

  • gamegirl829

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 7:45 am GMT

    Someone needs to learn how to count - The Ps2's been out for (not even) 6 years in the US, not 10. Anyway, it doesn't matter what Microsoft does, PS3 will still be phenomenal - both in sales and games, obviously, nothing can stop that. Halo is pathetically over-rated, even counterstrike is better. So is timesplitters, metroid, etc. Microsoft will be using this tactic long past it's been beaten half-to-death... "Oh, we'll release another sequel of an average game with a clichéd story to counter with Sony!" Boohoo, tally up the scores at the end of a few fiscal years and we'll see who's "winning", Master Chief or not...

  • killa-k

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 6:16 am GMT

    it doesn't matter 2 me when it comes out i'ma get that day .

  • twistedvenom1

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 5:22 am GMT

    Good idea take your time at making Halo 3.

  • miiiguel

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 2:21 am GMT

    Do you know what sucks ? PS2 does: 10 years old!!!! Man!, that's a huge time! - you old-timers!!!!!

  • miiiguel

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 2:19 am GMT

    No problem to buy a PS3, but meanwhile I'll be using X360, I feel sorry for you fanboys (or maybe you just have shares from Sony...).

  • mickel_darmawan

    Posted Jan 12, 2006 8:29 pm GMT

    I will buying it for TEKKEN 6, DMC 4, and MGS 4!! No Doubt, I don't care about GTA either ...... and FF?? Only FF 11 (online FF ver.), that goes also for that box 1.5. The newest FF installment the FF 12 is still for PS2, and maybe the next FF 13 is still also for the PlayStation. (^^) !!

  • xAlphaZerox

    Posted Jan 12, 2006 5:00 pm GMT

    Think what you want about Halo, but what franchise has Sony got in their back pocket? No GTA til fall '07 on PS3, no more exclusive rights on Final Fantasy....and MGS4 may be cool, but I ain't buying the system for it.

  • mickel_darmawan

    Posted Jan 12, 2006 3:59 pm GMT

    Who care about HALO 3?? --> Only the xbox 1.5 fan boys, so just leave it .......................................................................................................................................

  • velozitty1

    Posted Jan 12, 2006 1:17 pm GMT

    i dont care the game will be awsome!!

  • deathdrifter666

    Posted Jan 12, 2006 10:39 am GMT

    halo sucks anyway

  • miiiguel

    Posted Jan 12, 2006 10:21 am GMT

    It was funny to read this thread, I mean, I even read that Bill Gates is not a very good businessman - LOL!!!!!
    I can't understand how Sony-only players cope with the wait.
    I can't afford to do that, too much to try - bye, bye, going to play with my X360.

  • SLAYERPSP

    Posted Jan 12, 2006 10:01 am GMT

    a little off the subject but the poll on this site right now people think the ps3 will be out before halo3 and nintendos new system i think nintendos new system will hit before the ps3. well nintendo showed the controller already. its not some new chip set in the system its not some super powered machine it all points to it being out before the ps3 just becuse it will be much easier to build less parts i just dont think the ps3 will hit intill07 sony needs to pump up the psp this year

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