Pachter: Next-gen Microsoft console launch will be pushed to 2014

Wedbush Morgan video game industry analyst Michael Pachter has reassessed his outlook on the next-generation console from Microsoft, stating that the publisher could be pushing its launch back from 2013 to 2014.

According to Pachter, “We have heard no word yet from Microsoft or Sony about their plans to launch new consoles, but both manufacturers are widely expected to launch consoles by year-end 2013. Although, we believe that Microsoft could delay a new console launch until spring of 2014 in order to accommodate what is certain to be overwhelming demand among hardcore gamers.”

It’ll be interesting to see what Microsoft’s strategy will be, since launching a year before the PlayStation 3 gave the console an edge it never relinquished.