NEWS - Monday, May 8, 2006
![](/images/news/avatars/273.jpg)
Xbox 360 Team At Work On Portable
Author Dean Takahashi has claimed in his new book, The Xbox 360 Uncloaked, that half of Microsofts Xbox 360 hardware team has moved onto a portable hardware project - designed to compete with Nintendos DS and Sonys PSP - since the launch of the next gen machine. Takahashi claims the team was split in two following the launch, leaving the other half to work solely on reduced production costs of Xbox 360. According to the writer, the portable is planned to be released halfway into Xbox 360s lifespan, a strategy to assuage the crippling costs of moving through hardware cycles. Sony, obviously, has employed a similar approach with PS2 and PSP. A Microsoft gaming handheld has been long-rumoured, the latest occurrence adding fuel to this particular fire being the release of a movie for the companys Origami project. A promotional video for the handheld PC showed Halo 2 running on its screen. Future-gazing aside, Takahasis book contains a wealth of insider information on the creation of Xbox 360 and the team responsible for the project, including details on the departure of Ed Fries, Microsofts VP for game publishing; the machinations surrounding decisions to work with the likes of nVidia and Intel with Xbox 360; and Microsofts internal reaction to the announcement of PlayStation 3s Cell processor.Source: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/