According to reports by Japanese newspaper, reproduced at CNet, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, MS CEO Steve Ballmer made the remark during a press conference in Japan. Many had expected the new Xbox to arrive a year earlier. Microsoft representatives refused to confirm the 2006 date. "No date has been announced for future Xbox products or services," the company said in a statement. "Our executives often talk about the future in terms of vision and the possibilities of technology. This is what allows us to be innovative as a company." Game consoles typically run on a five-year life cycle, which means market leader Sony would be due to replace its PlayStation 2 in 2005.