While industry watchers are already speculating which company will win the next-gen console war, few have the insight or the influence of Jeff Griffiths. The president of EB Games shared his thoughts on the next-gen console race last week at the Piper Jaffray Consumer Conference in New York City, and his words were heartening to Microsoft partisans.

　　"If they (Microsoft) come out before Sony, [and] if they have the range of exclusive titles like Sony had for the PS2," he said, "I think they have the potential for market share leadership." It is a widely held view that Microsoft is pushing to release its next-gen console, most often called the Xbox Next, before Sony's PlayStation 3. The two devices are expected to arrive in late 2005 and early 2006, respectively.

　　Commenting on the chances of the Xbox Next on the next-gen market, Griffiths said, "[Microsoft] could get a 30 percent share...I think if they got less than that they'd be disappointed." The latter part of Griffiths' statement is an oblique reference to the massive publicity war chest Microsoft is already amassing for the Xbox Next.

　　However, while Griffiths' opinion carries weight, it remains speculation, because Microsoft refuses to comment on its release plans for the Xbox Next.