'Next Xbox and PlayStation to be announced this year'

Microsoft and Sony are expected to launch their new games consoles this summer, according to reports.

The successors to the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 could be announced at the E3 games show this year, according to industry website MCV.

This year's E3 show, which takes place in June, will also see Nintendo confirm the details of its Wii U console - the successor to the highly successful Wii.

The Xbox 360 launched in 2005, replacing the original Xbox, which was then four years old. Sony's PlayStation 3 was released a year later, in November 2006.

According to MCV, Sony is keen to avoid again being behind Microsoft in the release schedule and so is planning an earlier than expected announcement.

The MCV report says: "Execs aren’t expecting price or launch details for the new Xbox or PlayStation. But their unveiling could be a perfect spoiler to the pre-Christmas launch date and price that will be revealed for Wii U in June."