Microsoft confirms Zune will play games by July 2008

Microsoft's Peter Moore, chief Xbox-exec and avid bicep tattooer, confirmed a plan to add video games to the Zune (Xune?) at CES yesterday. This would bring the Zune up to speed with the iPod's ability to offer games, albeit several months late. Moore said the Zune's large screen would provide a better platform for handheld gaming, gushing, "I love the interface, I love the screen." We know you do, Peter. We know you do. While this isn't quite what we were thinking when pondering a Microsoft-branded handheld gaming system, everyone's gotta start somewhere (we're looking at you, Zune). Of course, Peter Moore -- perhaps prematurely -- told BusinessWeek last year, "It can't just be our version of the iPod ... in addition to playing music and videos, a Microsoft device would include games." And now it will ... err, rather, it will in about eighteen months.

[Via ZuneBoards]

[Coil @ Jan 9th 2007 12:23PM]

So it will be a ugly brown knock-off of a PSP this time?

[Jason @ Jan 9th 2007 11:48AM]

I like it. I'm not sure why wait til '08, but I like it.

[hchute @ Jan 9th 2007 11:55AM]

That's a ways away, but at least it's finally CONFIRMED..!!

Harvey
http://www.zunerama.com

[AlfredTV @ Jan 9th 2007 1:54PM]

i wonder if they are going to screw us guys that have the current zune and release this with a zune v2 or something like that you know like the ipod gen 2 - ???

[Shawn @ Jan 9th 2007 2:12PM]

If a Zune v2 comes out in 2008, Why would you consider yourself screwed over?

[condor @ Jan 9th 2007 1:27PM]

too little, too late

[Taz @ Jan 9th 2007 1:45PM]

I couldn't care less about a game playing zune, but I have to admit - I love that faked up picture you've posted of a Microsoft styled PSP... I would sooooo buy one of those :)

[Thayden @ Jan 9th 2007 1:57PM]

What's Microsoft?

[NHAnimator @ Jan 9th 2007 2:09PM]

Why would Peter Moore compare it to an iPod? Movies, videos, and games? It's much more like their version of a PSP.

I can't imagine MS making the Zune a gaming machine without adding thumbsticks, etc. Either that, or it will be a half-ass gamer. Not good if you want to play Halo on it.

[Lloyd @ Jan 9th 2007 3:07PM]

Dumb. Anything that suports gaming other than consoles/ds/psp, computers, or boards(aka monopoly), are worthless. Cell phones, ipods, now Zune... should just stay away, or only supoort Tetris. I mean even the PSP has problems with great gameplay and its 100x more capable than a Zune... without the right controls, nothing is fun. Well, besides Tetris.

Oh and Snake, lol.

[Karel Jansens @ Jan 9th 2007 5:08PM]

So. Microsoft's still playing the vapourware game, I see. Here's my prediction: the Zune will never ever play games, but that won't keep tech-dumbos (you know: the kind that write "articles" for CNet) from heaping praise upon glory for a game-Zune they've never seen, never tested and basically don't know anything about.

[Generic @ Jan 11th 2007 7:14PM]

wtf? talking about this and theres 1 and more than half year more years? someone else would have probably invented a portable virutal reality consoles by then and zune would be so casette player now!!!