PCWorld - Microsoft's next Xbox console will have all sorts of bells and whistles, including Blu-ray, broadcast DVR, and—eventually—augmented-reality glasses, according to one report.
Xbox World, a magazine published in the United Kingdom, has published a long feature article on what it believes Microsoft's next console will be like, citing “industry experts and Microsoft's own leaky boat.” The report is based in large part on leaked planning documents that surfaced in June—eventually taken down at the request of a law firm that represents Microsoft—but with additional comments from industry sources.
Here's a rundown of the features that Xbox World expects to see in Microsoft's next gaming console.
Keep in mind that all of this is rumor or speculation, and Microsoft hasn't confirmed any of it:
- Hardware may include four hardware cores, 8GB of RAM, four USB spots (two in front, two in back), and a removable hard drive.
- A “Kinect 2.0” may detect subtle finger movements and track up to four players in a single room.
- Augmented reality glasses could work with Kinect to create virtual reality in your living room. Hello, Holodeck.
- To further enhance the virtual reality vibe, the next Xbox could have 3D sound to project audio to specific parts of a room.
- Microsoft may finally embrace Blu-ray in its next Xbox, but may eventually ship a slimmer console that skips optical discs altogether, possibly around 2015.
- Rumors hint at a traditional Xbox controller, but with a touch screen or programmable buttons. Xbox World's report adds some speculation from experts, but the controller still seems like major question mark.
