A report over GameIndustry.biz web-site claims Microsoft Corp. is likely to introduce its new gaming console in early January, 2005, months from now. The announcement is expected to be carried out by Microsoft’s chairman Bill Gates during his speech a day before Consumer Electronics Show 2005 kicks off.

Earlier this year a report over a web-site suggested that Microsoft would use its X04 event to announce the ‘Xbox Next’ console in mid-September, 2004, and on CES or Game Developer Conference the software giant would show off a working model of the next-generation gaming machine presumably called Xbox 2. It was explained that the demonstration in about 6 months time before the commercial release of the product was conditioned by Sony's and Nintendo's intentions to expose their PlayStation3 and GameCube 2 consoles in mid-2005 at E3 exhibition and Microsoft's desire to attract maximum attention to its forthcoming technology.

However, Redmond, Washington-based software giant did not reveal anything on the matter of the next Xbox during the most-recent game-shows. Right now various observers and media expect Mr. Gates to announce the Xbox 2 during his speech a day before CES 2005, on January 5, 2005.

Microsoft is reportedly going to dramatically change its strategy of getting logic components for its Xbox 2 console that is to be released on the middle of the decade. Instead of getting chips from its partners, Microsoft inked technology agreements with ATI for graphics technologies, IBM for microprocessors as well as SiS for I/O and multimedia technologies and is likely to manage chip manufacturing itself.

Commercial Xbox 2 consoles are expected to enter the scene in late 2005, according to unofficial information.

Leading game developers have already been supplied with software development kits of the Xbox 2.

Representatives for Microsoft Corp. did not comment on the news-story.