Microsoft has had a 20-year presence at the Consumer Electronics Show, including a decade of Xbox-related reveals. Some have been memorable (the Xbox was shown for the first time at CES 2001), while others were less so (Game Room's reveal at E3 2010). However, each year since its existence, the Xbox has played a part in Microsoft's presence, and its keynote address. After this January's CES, however, Microsoft will have little involvement with the annual tech showcase.
Citing the fact that "our product news milestones generally don’t align with the show’s January timing," Microsoft Corporate Vice President Frank X. Shaw noted that 2012 will be the final year that Microsoft presents a keynote address and showcases their product in a public booth at CES. Shaw noted that "We’ll continue to participate in CES as a great place to connect with partners and customers across the PC, phone and entertainment industries," but did not further explain what role the company will take in its participation.
The company’s final keynote is scheduled for the evening of January 9, 2012, with the show public show running from January 10-13. The question now is, will the company save a major revelation for its final keynote, or will they go softly into the night?
SOURCE: 2012 Marks Final CES Keynote for Microsoft [The Official Microsoft Blog]
