FPS General

Next-gen Xbox render - unconfirmed design

Microsoft has announced that they will be unveiling the 'beginning of a new generation of games, TV and entertainment' on May 21st of this year at a special event on the Microsoft campus in Redmond, WA.

So, with all the hype surrounding the PlayStation 4 reveal earlier this year, how will Microsoft's next-generation console stack up? Here are some of the more popular rumors surrounding the upcoming console, giving some insight on what you can expect at the big Xbox reveal next month!

Codename Durango

Everything we know about the next-generation Xbox suggests that it is under development using the codename Durango. Much like the Nintendo Wii was known as the Revolution pre-release, the Xbox Durango is likely to get a new name before it is unveiled to the public. As for what this name is, we're at a bit of a loss.

A few names we've heard tossed about in Internet circles include:

• Xbox Durango
• Xbox 720
• Xbox

We'd be surprised if they go with Xbox, although that seems the most likely rumor at the time of this writing.

The first credible details on Microsoft's next-generation home gaming console have finally come to light after an internal document leaked online this past weekend.

Whether the details in this document can be trusted remains to be seen, but it is worth noting that Covington & Burling LLP, the law firm that represents Microsoft, has removed the leaked document from its original home at scribd. While this doesn't confirm that the document has credibility, it certainly suggests that Microsoft has a reason to want these details buried.

As one would expect, the 'Xbox 720' is significantly more powerful than its predecessor, the Xbox 360 which was released in 2005. The purported specs can be found below, but expect the Xbox 720 to be able to play games in full 3D, true 1080HD and support even more non-gaming functionality than the current iteration of Microsoft's console.

As with the initial Xbox 360, consumers will have the option to purchase different versions of Microsoft's next gaming console although it looks like there will be more options in the future. Rather than just different options for hard drives, it looks like the entire system may be designed to be "modular design to facilitate SKU updates later in lifecycle."

As has been rumored for a while, Microsoft has unveiled a brand new Xbox 360 and Kinect bundle for just $99.

Taking a cue from mobile phone carriers around the country, Microsoft is drastically slashing the price of a new Xbox 360 and Xbox Kinect sensor with the purchase of a two year Xbox Live Gold contract. The Xbox Live contract will run you $14.99 per month which is more than you would pay if you purchased a yearly subscription to the service which averages out to be around $5 per month.

The flipside to that, however, is that purchasing a new Xbox 360 and Kinect Sensor would run you around $299. That is a whopping savings of around $200.

With so many first-person and third-person shooters starting to integrate Kinect into their releases, this is something that a lot of FPS fans are going to want to cash in on. The new bundles are available at select Microsoft Stores right now, check out http://content.microsoftstore.com/ to find a store near you!