The Wii U's performance hasn't been categorically determined, even at E3 2012 where non-Nintendo titles such as Zombie U and Rayman Legends were shown. Microsoft Studios corporate vice president, Phil Spencer, claims the graphical capabilities of the console are on par with Xbox 360 -- a current generation console.

"I think their Pro controller makes a lot of sense ... They are building a platform that is effectively a 360 when you think of graphical capability. Now they are really making an on-ramp for the back catalogue of games that are on the 360," Spencer said. The Wii U Pro controller goes alongside the GamePad - the tablet controller with an additional screen - and the Wii's Wii Remote and Nunchuk combination.

"They've moved the buttons around, and they've made a controller that feels familiar for 360 gamers, so I get why they are putting those pieces together," Spencer added.

Games Industry conducted the interview and also asked if Halo 4 was second to Call of Duty in the mind of consumers. The two games opened and closed Microsoft's E3 2012 conference respectively.

"Halo plays to its strength of character and story and settings ... I'm not saying Call of Duty doesn't have story or setting, but the nature of the franchise is that you don't have iconic characters living from game to game," Spencer added. He also mentioned Spartan Ops as a key innovation, and DICE's Battlefield 3 as good competition in the space.

Halo 4 was viewed by some as the most unique shooter on the market, having a Metroid Prime feel from the heads-up display to the new Promethean enemies. That's no surprise considering the studio has former Metroid Prime for Gamecube and Wii developers. By contrast the Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 demo didn't garner a great reception, which media figures such as Jeff Gerstmann - who saw the demo at Treyarch before E3 - said was partly down to the player making mistakes.

On the "desire" to see the next-generation Xbox console, as Games Industry said, Spencer reiterated that the Xbox 360 is a multimedia machine and the value for money through bundles such as the $99 Xbox 360.