Microsoft Xbox 360 turns five years old this year and it is set to receive a major update in the form of code-named Natal motion sensor. But while the console will get morally old in the next couple of years, Microsoft Corp.’s officials claim that the Xbox 360 has a long life ahead, perhaps, another five years.

“I think it is important to say that the Xbox 360 is the console of the long future for us. There is no need to launch a new console, because we are able to give this console new life either with software upgrades or hardware upgrades like Project Natal. The Xbox 360 was designed for a long life, and I don't even know if we are at the midpoint yet,” said David Hufford, senior director of Xbox product management at Microsoft, reports the Guardian news-paper.

Although the technology has evolved dramatically in the last five years, Microsoft believes that Xbox 360 can handle future games rather easily. For example, already now Xbox 360 can support stereoscopic 3D gaming, which seems to be a capability that may become rather necessary in the coming years.

“Avatar is on Xbox and we have a 3D game, Scrap Metal, in our booth right now,” said Mr. Hufford.

This is not the first time when Microsoft claims that upgrades like Natal motion sensor will help to prolong the lifespan of Xbox 360. The company also claims that constant software updated make Xbox 360 the best choice on the market. While Microsoft may be correct when it comes to software capabilities, Sony Computer Entertainment’s PlayStation 3 has better hardware that sports Bluetooth connectivity, Blu-ray disc player and built-in Wi-Fi controller. Microsoft should either add appropriate hardware into next iterations of Xbox 360 or introduce a new console in order to provide better functionality than the PS3, especially in case Microsoft is talking about five more years for the Xbox 360.

Tags: Microsoft, Xbox, Natal