The death knell has tolled for Xbox 360's predecessor as official release schedules show seven of the UK's top ten publishers appear to have turned their backs on the format.
According to official release schedules, major third parties like Ubisoft, Sega, Midway, Vivendi and Activision have no planned future Xbox releases.
European president of Sega Mike Hayes told MCV: "Sales on Xbox have fallen dramatically in the last six months. It no longer represents a viable platform for us."
And general manager for Activision in the UK and Ireland Andrew Brown added to the groundswell of opinion: "Given the current dynamic in the Xbox market in the UK, we have had to manage the availability of our slate in line with consumer demand."
According to ELSPA statistics, Xbox enjoyed just 2.6 per cent of total software sales last week. This was still 30 per cent better than the week before, however – perhaps an indication that retailers have started slashing software prices in order to shift remaining stock.
Retailers such as Virgin Megastores, HMV and Woolworths have pulled Xbox hardware off the shelves completely and started selling-off marked-down software.
"It's fairly self-evident that demand for particular titles on Xbox is diminishing and becoming less commercially viable," head of games at HMV Tim Ellis told MCV. "I can understand why some titles may no longer be coming out."
The only big budget games still officially due for the format are: Avatar The Last Airbender from THQ (09/02), Medal Of Honor: Heroes from EA (Q1 2007) and 2K Games' film tie-in Ghost Rider (Q1 2007).
Talented modder ‘JulioNIB’ has released a new mod for Grand Theft Auto V. This mod brings Ghost Rider – alongside his motorcycle and his powers – to Rockstar’s open-world title.
In honor of Mega Man week, Blake from Leviathyn.com discusses eight powers he wishes Mega Man could take from characters of other universes.
How about NewGameMan? With the power to bring new games that aren't Star Force.
Ghost Rider, a loose adaptation of the recent Hollywood interpretation of Marvel's hero, is an exceptionally dull affair – which is surprising given that you're tasked with whipping, punching and blasting demons back to their seedy underworld den.
You see, like some devilish curse, Ghost Rider is the definition of repetitiveness: you enter an area, trigger a cut-scene detailing the creatures you're about to face, despatch them, find the checkpoint, trigger more enemies and so on, until no one but yourself is left standing. New adversaries come along but it doesn't matter whether you're fighting ghouls in a village square or demon ninjas on an industrial cargo lift – the sensation is exactly the same.
"This was still 30 per cent better than the week before, however – perhaps an indication that retailers have started slashing software prices in order to shift remaining stock. "
....that or christmas......muppets
So? Next gen is here.
A 733 Mhz Celeron CPU, 64 MB Ram and Geforce 3 should be replaced for sure...
Oh come on, these companies should be able to make more games for the the XBox and not jumping ship to the 360. look on the Sony side, they have released the Playstation 3 (or going to release it some time later if your european) and some of the developers who are making games for all the next-gen consoles are still making games for the PS2.
All I'm saying is that give the current XBox, and the other current consoles one last play.
that just tells you the power of the PLaystation. The PS2 is STILL going strong, after like 6 years. Thats pretty damn impressive. THe XBOX just got its a$$ whooped. It just tells people, the up hill battle that MS is Facing with the GIANT PLAYSTATION BRAND!
PLAY B3YOND
Peace out.