Rumor that won't die: Microsoft to license Xbox 360 to outside companies
- June 25, 2008 08:54 AM PST
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The rumor that Microsoft will lease Xbox 360 hardware to third-party manufacturers (much like 3DO and CD-i) resurfaced on Tuesday, the second time since first appearing in 2005.
That's one way to solve Red Rings...
According to the July issue of EGM, transcribed by Kotaku, "Microsoft may begin allowing third-party manufacturers to create Xbox 360 hardware," which means outside electronics companies could build their own consoles to play Xbox 360 games.
It is unclear, however, if EGM happened upon a stale rumor, or if the idea has been given new life. In 2005, it was reported by several outlets that Microsoft would license 360 specs to third-party manufacturers, in an effort to accelerate production and lower costs.
Obviously that didn't happen, but since then the same rumor has resurfaced on at least one more occasion in addition to this week's murmuring.
Microsoft was not immediately available for comment when contacted by GamePro on Wednesday.
In the early 90s, both The 3DO Interactive Multiplayer and CD-i multimedia consoles were licensed to multiple electronics companies, including Panasonic, Philips, and Magnavox. Both were commercial failures.
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- Jun 25 2008 at 08:54:27:AM PST
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how about sony 360? i can see it now xbots would suddenly have to start playing half assed games with horrid frame rates.lol then they could truly feel a ps3 owners pain
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not a good idea, but if they license it to someone that adds a blu-ray player it may move a few extra consoles. still not a good move.
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They have been talking a lot about this but i don't think that will happen but then again Bill Gates left so anything is possible
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m3at7 Posted at: 06/25/08 at 9:02 AM PST They have been talking a lot about this but i don't think that will happen but then again Bill Gates left so anything is possible Yeah I don't think it will happen either, But Bill does have the Final say so, I believe
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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
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Gates didnt leave microsoft hes just not doing the board meetings and stuff. He still has a final say so on everything. Its still his company and will continue to be so unless he sells his shares or dies. And this could actually be pretty cool to see what other companys can add. And yea those other 2 systems tried that but they never had the huge base that the 360 has and both were failures from the start.
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Well, being that Microsoft cannot fix their own Hardware since a BroomKeeper in Bangladesh designed their motherboard. RROD has been the blackeye of the 360 and is a curse of rusing a console to market too early... a decision that cost billions and will go down as one of the worst business decisions in electronics history. Imagine if YOU cost YOUR company 2 Billion dollars or more... what would YOUR fate be? you would be the posterboy for LOSER and would be blacklisted and could not get a job outside of splitting lettuce for burgers.
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