Microsoft Downplays Manager's Mention of 'New Xbox'

News
By Jane McEntegart
published

To believe, or not to believe: that is the question.

Earlier this month, a Microsoft executive set tongues wagging when he let slip a mention of a 'new Xbox'. Still, it seems Microsoft is eager to nip things in the bud, as the company has said Windows Live General Manager Brian Hall was actually talking about new Xbox software.

Microsoft has long been rumored to be working on a brand new Xbox console, but the company is reluctant to talk about plans relating to the next generation. When pressed on the issue, Microsoft will sometimes point to Kinect and say it thinks the current generation still has a lot of life left in it. However, during a podcast with The Verge, Brian Hall, General Manager of Windows Live, spoke about Microsoft's decision to go forward with Outlook.com and accidentally mentioned the new Xbox as one of the motivations for the new webmail client.

"We've operated Hotmail for about 16 years," he told The Verge. "We obviously have Exchange and Outlook that people use at work, and we just decided it was time to do something new and bring the best from each of those and put them together and release it right in time for the new wave of products that we have coming out with Windows 8, with the new version of Office, with the New Windows Phone and the new Xbox."

Microsoft this week rushed to 'clarify' Hall's comments, insisting that he was talking about software.

"When Brian mentioned a 'new wave of products', he was referring to the full line-up of products coming later this year from Microsoft, including Windows 8, Office, Windows Phone and of course our fall Xbox update which will bring a host of new consumer experiences like Xbox Music, Videos, Games on Windows 8 and Xbox SmartGlass," CVG quotes Redmond as saying.

The as-yet-unconfirmed Xbox 720 is thought to be making its debut at E3 2013, in June of next year. However, the release is not expected until late 2013 or early 2014.

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Jane McEntegart
13 Comments Comment from the forums
  • guardianangel42
    I don't really care what you think about console gaming, every PC gamer should be waiting for the new Xbox and Playstation with bated breath. New hardware means new hardware requirements. New hardware requirements means better looking games.
    Reply
  • internetlad
    Lol yep, It's sad when we (pc gamers) have to wait for the console bottleneck to widen so our rigs can flex their muscle..
    Reply
  • mousseng
    Though every now-and-again, there's gems like Witcher 2 and Crysis that are specifically designed to run on high-end, modern PCs, and not set-top boxes.
    Reply
  • upgrade_1977
    So... FYI to any consoles gamers, if I recall correctly, about 2 years ago Microsoft said there is at least 6 years left in this console cycle... also, I believe Sony said something similiar..

    so if you want more power, just buy a PC.. :D
    Reply
  • dalethepcman
    I'm just waiting for microsoft to really kick their hardware partners in the teeth and announce the next xbox runs windows 8 and sells for $299. Good by crappy emachines / compaqs etc..
    Reply
  • RabidFace
    Tom's HardwareStill, it seems Microsoft is eager to nip things in the bud...
    Umm...was supposed to be butt maybe? :D
    Reply
  • tat2demon
    No, grow up.

    nip something in the bud to stop something soon after it has begun If this problem isn't nipped in the bud, it will soon get totally out of hand.
    Etymology: based on the literal meaning of nip (to cut) and bud (the part of a plant that develops into a flower)
    Reply
  • NuclearShadow
    At this rate my future grandchildren will be gaming on this current console generation.

    guardianangel42I don't really care what you think about console gaming, every PC gamer should be waiting for the new Xbox and Playstation with bated breath. New hardware means new hardware requirements. New hardware requirements means better looking games.
    Not exactly true. If console gamers could be converted to PC gaming to at-least make a slight PC majority then the entire gaming industry would begin to shift towards developing for the PC as it's core. Just imagine the games that could exist when they aim to take full advantage of modern hardware.

    But don't get your hopes up much, the drooling drone masses of console gamers with their low intellect, you have more of a chance of teaching a cat trigonometry.
    Reply
  • mousseng
    9389234 said:
    Not exactly true. If console gamers could be converted to PC gaming to at-least make a slight PC majority then the entire gaming industry would begin to shift towards developing for the PC as it's core.
    The fact is though, there's a much larger and more varied demographic on consoles than on PC. Whether or not it's possible to move the majority to PC (spoiler: it's not) has no bearing on whether or not PC gamers should keep an eye on this.

    But don't get your hopes up much, the drooling drone masses of console gamers with their low intellect, you have more of a chance of teaching a cat trigonometry.
    Mature.
    Reply
  • snowzsan
    @NuclearShadow

    All I can really say is wow.... Grow up kiddo. You have a problem with console gaming, that's fine. But no point in crying over it and calling the general gaming population "low intellect" drones. I game on my PC, but I'm not a narrow sighted idiot either, so I purchased the consoles. I'd advise you get off your high horse and do the damn same because you're missing out on a lot of great, exclusive titles. Beyond that, there's no help for someone as blantantly ignorant and self-righteous as yourself. You're not a gamer if you're purposely denying yourself the absolute full gaming experience because of personal bias. You're just a fanboy with too much time and not enough brain cells.

    Beyond that, I do hope these consoles come out soon. I've been holding back on upgrade on my PC for a while because I never really saw the point. Sure some games are left in med graphics but they're still more than playable. Come on MS and Sony, let's get this over with already.
    Reply