|
[UPDATE] Alleged 2010 Microsoft document details Xbox 360 successor, claiming it will launch next year with updated Kinect and Blu-ray drive; augmented reality glasses hitting in 2014; document removed at request of Microsoft's legal team. 
A purported Microsoft document has shed light on what the Seattle technology giant may be planning for its next Xbox. The 56-page document posted to posted to Scribd indicates an "Xbox 720" will launch in 2013 at $299 with an updated iteration of Microsoft's motion-control technology, tentatively dubbed "Kinect V2."
The new version of Kinect, according to the document, will support four-player full-body tracking and allow gamers to sit down while playing. On top of this, "Kinect V2" will be able to adapt to players' living rooms, meaning they will not need to move furniture for an optimal experience.
In addition, the document indicates the new Xbox will boast a Blu-ray optical drive and promises "4x-6x" greater power over the Xbox 360. Speculation from earlier this year pointed to a new Xbox boasting a Blu-ray drive, as well as functionality that would curb used games. No mention was made in the document concerning the possibility of the console blocking, or in any way inhibiting, second-hand titles.
On top of this, the document also claims Microsoft is planning to add support for augmented reality glasses for the new Xbox. This endeavor will be called "Fortaleza," and is planned to launch sometime in 2014. The glasses will reportedly run on Wi-Fi and 4G connections.
The literature also indicates that the Xbox 720 will feature some kind of "always on" functionality, but no additional information about this was offered. Microsoft reportedly has high hopes for the technology, as it predicts it will sell 100 million consoles over a 10-year lifespan, according to the documents.
Lastly, the document's "Cloud Value Proposition 2015" section indicates Microsoft is looking to cloud services for its future. The slides suggest Microsoft will offer future software and services through the cloud, thus removing the need to purchase new hardware ever again.
If the report is legitimate, it may not represent Microsoft's current planning for a new Xbox, as the material dates back to the middle of 2010.
[UPDATE] After the publication of this story, the document was removed at the request of Microsoft's legal team Covington & Burling.
As of press time, Microsoft had not responded to GameSpot's request for comment on the matter. For more on the speculation regarding Microsoft's new console--as well as the Wii U and PlayStation 4--check out GameSpot's roundup feature.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
|
