Microsoft has been very quiet about their next-gen Xbox, and even though it is heavily rumored to block used games, it appears that GameStop CEO J. Paul Raines has nothing but praise for the newest Microsoft machine in a recent interview.
"We've been spending a lot of time with Microsoft, but we have to let them take the lead on this, but it will be a very hot, compelling device. They are doing some really cool stuff, and I'm eager to hear them start their announcements because I think the world is going to stand up and take notice..." Raines told GamesIndustry.
Raines also discussed many gamers' contempt for the next-gen systems, noting that their negativity is not justified and every new generation of consoles faces some sort of backlash from fans.
"We don't subscribe to that. The cool thing with GameStop is, we've got a lot of gamers here and we've got a lot of people (on the team) who've seen every console cycle. And what's interesting to me - I was talking to one of our founders, Dan DeMatteo, and he was telling me every console cycle you get people who will say 'there will never be another console,' or 'what else can the consoles do?' And we just believe it's a cycle and we just haven't had a new product in so long. But we certainly don't believe that the new consoles won't be as exciting," Rains commented.
Raines words are interesting, considering that GameStop president Tony Bartel is against consoles that block used games. Raines is supportive of the next-gen Xbox, so perhaps the two executives have different stances on the issue. We shall have to see if gamers feel that the newest Xbox is as praiseworthy as Raines feels it is when Microsoft finally shows off the console publically.