Microsoft Confirms No X07 Event This Year

Officials from Microsoft have confirmed that the company will not hold an X07 video game trade and media event this year, opting instead to focus on individual upcoming titles in the firm’s portfolio. Stated a Microsoft representative in an email to Gamasutra: “I can confirm that we are not hosting an X0 event this year. We review how we demonstrate our fantastic games and gaming experiences every year, and this year we have decided to highlight blockbusters like PGR4, Bioshock, Mass Effect and of course Halo 3 on an individual basis rather than have one large event.” Apart from 2004, the X0 events have occurred annually in Europe, since the launch of the original Xbox, and have frequently been used for high profile announcements such as the European pricing details for the Xbox in 2001, the acquisition of Rare in 2002, the launch line-up of the Xbox 360 in 2005, and the price and launch details of the Xbox 360’s HD-DVD peripheral in 2006. News of the cancellation first became known by way of comments made by Aaron Greenberg, group product manager for Xbox Live and the Xbox 360, in a podcast interview with website SquadXP, during which he commented, “There is not a real X07 this year but I think that we will figure out some way to talk about 2008 some time at a different event or a different type of program." However, it is unclear at this time what events, if any, will be organized by Microsoft as a replacement for the annual X0 conference.