What's Microsoft up to?

Microsoft seems to have a software drought at the moment (pertaining to XBOX 360 exclusives). On the surface, it looks like Sony is going to blow Microsoft out of the water from now until the end of 2009. But, what if the reason Microsoft hasn't announced anything new is because they are waiting to announce a slew of new games that have some special connection/interaction with a yet-to-be-announced peripheral. What peripheral you ask? The X-Mote.

There have been many rumors reported (including on my blog) about this phantom piece of hardware, and there still have been no official announcements. Well, E3 2009 is coming in about a month, and you'd best believe that Microsoft wants to show something great.  Something that will marginalize both Nintendo and Sony. So, what could Microsoft do to marginalize Nintendo? Steal their thunder! Help everyone to see how limited and primitive the Wii really is! No offense to the Wii crowd, I fell for the hype too, and bought one... Just admit it, we've all been had.

If Microsoft announces a Wiimote-like controller with equal or better accuracy than the Wii Motion Plus offers, along with a handful of key titles... Microsoft may just have a winner on its hands. Furthermore, if Microsoft bundles the new controller with the model of the XBOX 360 that sells for $199, perhaps it would start eating Wii sales. The majority of "casual" gamers who are buying the Wii, are buying it to play Wii Sports. So, if Microsoft ships their console with a Wii Sports clone, and the motion controller than it may become a better all around game console than the Wii. A games console for all of us.

But what would this introduction mean for Sony? Well, if Sony doesn't release a similar controller with games to support it, then Sony may loose additional ground to Microsoft. The PS3 is already more expensive than the XBOX 360, and if the 360 adds motion-based gaming to its repertoire, Microsoft may be propelled to first place within a year or two!

So, what is Microsoft up to? I guess we'll see at E3.