The Xbox 360, with it's new sleek look and Kinect companion, will be around for at least another five years according to Microsoft's European executive, Chris Lewis.

"I think 2010 will be a very big year for us, it is in many ways for us mid-lifecycle," said Lewis.

"What you've seen is with this new sleek design and Kinect for Xbox 360 we've got at least another five years of this generation where we continue to offer great experiences for people.

"We continue to attach more games than competitive platforms and we have the healthiest ecosystem with 25 million people connected through Xbox Live," he continued.

"So we are uniquely placed to continue to do really, really well in this business and enjoy ongoing momentum."

When it came to talking about sales expectations, Lewis was vague but confident. "I can't be explicit about the numbers but I can say our market share has grown," he said.

"Our business ambition for this financial year, which begins on July 1, is certainly bigger than last year and we constantly set ourselves ambitious targets.

"Don Mattrick is not shy about aggressive targets for Europe because he now knows we've got the right assets, now more than ever, to really appeal to our audience."

We reported on Microsoft's intentions to release a cheaper 360 slim at $199 this "autumn" earlier today. A bundle containing the Slim and Kinect is also looking likely.