After much speculation last year, particularly at E3 (a major gaming event in Los Angeles California), Microsoft have released details of an announcement about the Xbox 720 is due in March 2013. Please note all information on this page is based on sourced, reasonable speculation or/and rumored features.
There are many assumptions to be found based on the successor, such as exactly what it will feature, the price and release date/month.
They have decided to go against announcing the arrival at this year’s E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) event, which is held on 11th to 13th June 2013. Instead in March an “Apple-like” event is to be held where they will announce Xbox 720 (code-name speculations include ‘Durango’ or ‘Kryptos’) to the world, and clearing up rumors once and for all.
(Update: Kazuo Hirai, CEO of Sony, has announced today (21st January) that it will let Microsoft make the first move. This could lead to Microsoft announcing the all new 720 at the annual Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, California held on 25th to 29th March.
On the day of the announcement Pwnrsmanual will post a special blog featuring all the latest news.
The, soon to be a classic, Xbox 360 was launched in 2005 over 7 years ago, then retailing at $400 – around £279.99.
Popular video game website ‘Gamespot’ has said the following about the release date;
“Microsoft will hold dedicated events prior to the 2013 Electronic Entertainment Expo (June 11-13, 2013) to finally unveil these machines…Sony and Microsoft will hype the consoles during E3 2013 itself before shipping the systems to retail during October and November, respectively.”
While ‘Christian Post’ has estimated that the release date “could be as early as June 11”
With Xbox talking about Smart Glass and Kinect at last year’s E3 event it will be interesting to discover if these will feature on the new 720. It will certainly raise the bar once again for the gaming industry. ‘Tech hunter’ assume:
“…the Xbox is speculated to feature the much-awaited Blu-ray support, 8GB of RAM, directional audio, TV input and output and an innovative controller to increase the level of experience. The new controller is alleged to be similar to Nintendo Wii U’s second screen controller… The Xbox 720 is rumoured to operate on Kinect 2.0 and sport Augmented Reality (AR).”
With many Xbox games soon to be released on the 720, ‘Pocket-lint’ quote “Halo developer Bungie’s next game, a MMO first-person shooter called Destiny, will be released in Autumn 2013 for Xbox 360 and…the Xbox 720”, could this be the first game for 720?
One thing can be certain; all eyes will be on Microsoft Xbox at this year’s E3 event as they can rightfully show off the highly anticipated creation.
(Update: 17th January 2013 – Ubisoft have announced a new release date of August 2013 for the latest addition of the ever popular game ‘Splinter Cell’. It will be called ‘Splinter Cell: Blacklist’, where we will see the return once more of Sam Fisher. Could this new release date (originally announced ‘Spring 2013’) hint at a release date around October/November 2013? This will allow for people to still buy their game, which is available now to pre-order for Xbox360, PS3 and PC and save up some money for the console.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: 7th February 2013
If you have ever wanted your Xbox to understand what you are saying soon this might just become a reality! According to an IGN report, the latest rumour surrounding the Xbox720 is that it will be able to understand your own voice. So as well as using Kinect to motion detect you physically it will have Apple’s “Siri-like” technology and can understand any questions you may want to ask. Going even further, your Xbox will also respond back to you with answers to your queries with some form of automated voice. Quote from IGN;
The rumor seems to fall in line with reports last year, which included a Microsoft job listing for the next-generation of Kinect, focused on developing on the “future of user input.”
This does seem to be the ultimate conclusion with the “future of user input” ,it is hard to consider that they do mean something else.
Some other additional features which would be great I personally think are, Blu Ray, more powerful than before, HD graphics, exclusive games, a large hard drive and reasonable pricing.
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Sources;
Christian Post (2013) Xbox 720 Release Date Set for June 11, Specs to be Revealed at E3 2013. [online] Available at: http://www.christianpost.com/news/xbox-720-release-date-set-for-june-11-specs-to-be-revealed-at-e3-2013-87822/ [Accessed: 14 Jan 2013].
Examiner (2013) Xbox 720 specs and games revealed. [online] Available at: http://www.examiner.com/article/xbox-720-specs-and-games-revealed [Accessed: 14 Jan 2013].
Gameranx (2013) ‘Xbox 720 and PS4’ Set for a Reveal Near GDC In March – Rumor. [online] Available at: http://www.gameranx.com/updates/id/12001/article/xbox-720-and-ps4-set-for-a-reveal-near-gdc-in-march—rumor/ [Accessed: 14 Jan 2013].
Gamespot (2013) PS4, Xbox 720 announcements in March?. [online] Available at: http://uk.gamespot.com/news/ps4-xbox-720-announcements-in-march-6402358 [Accessed: 14 Jan 2013].
Gamespot (2013) Xbox 720, PS4 could start at $350. [online] Available at: http://uk.gamespot.com/news/xbox-720-ps4-could-start-at-350-says-analyst-6402356 [Accessed: 14 Jan 2013].
IGN (2012) What E3 2012 Told Us About Xbox 360’s Future – IGN. [online] Available at: http://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/06/15/what-e3-2012-told-us-about-xbox-360s-future [Accessed: 14 Jan 2013].
IGN (2013) Xbox 720 to Reportedly Feature Siri-Like Voice Control – IGN. [online] Available at: http://uk.ign.com/articles/2013/02/07/xbox-720-to-reportedly-feature-siri-like-voice-control [Accessed: 7 Feb 2013]
Now Gamer (2012) PS4 Launching October, Xbox 720 November. [online] Available at: http://www.nowgamer.com/news/1764494/ps4_launching_october_xbox_720_november_analyst.html [Accessed: 14 Jan 2013].
Pocket-lint (2013) Bungie Destiny contract reveals Xbox 720 will arrive in 2013 – E3 announcement? – Pocket-lint. [online] Available at: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/45744/bungie-contract-reveals-xbox-720-for-2013 [Accessed: 14 Jan 2013].
Tech Hunter (2012) New Xbox Features Rumours Surface Through Microsoft’s Leaked Report. [online] Available at: http://www.techhunter.co.uk/gadgets/new-xbox-720-features-leaked/02629/ [Accessed: 14 Jan 2013].
The Guardian (2005) Xbox 360 UK price. [online] Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2005/aug/17/xbox360ukpri1 [Accessed: 14 Jan 2013].
Video Gamer (2013) Rumour: Xbox 720 and PlayStation 4 to be revealed. [online] Available at: http://www.videogamer.com/news/rumour_xbox_720_and_playstation_4_to_be_revealed_around_gdc_in_march.html [Accessed: 14 Jan 2013].
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