Console 
manufacturers have been quick to point out the advantages of playing video games on a big screen, but Microsoft has loftier ambitions.
The company unveiled their ‘IllumiRoom’ technology in January at CES, but we’re now getting a more complete picture of what it can do. And it’s pretty cool stuff.
On 
Wednesday, Microsoft confirmed the worst-kept secret in the video game world: It plans to unveil its next generation console on May 21.
Like Sony’s PlayStation 4, the new console is expected to hit stores this holiday season and many analysts and investors are hanging their hopes on the new machines to kickstart the video game industry back into growth mode.
Were 
this any other transition period for the video game industry, GameStop stock would be soaring these days.
Instead, the stock has been largely flat — climbing less than one point year to date, noticeably underperforming the market’s seven percent gains — as well as other companies in the gaming space.
Now 
that Nintendo has priced and dated the Wii U, it’s only a matter of time before people once again start trying to guess what Microsoft and Sony have in store. Other than unnecessary redesigns, that is.
Aside from secondhand information from developers, there aren’t many facts out there regarding the Xbox 720 (technical codename: Durango) or the PlayStation 4 (technical codename: Orbis). But they’re both definitely coming, so we’re heading out on a very large, very shaky limb today by blasting out some informed predictions for what gamers might expect in the near future. While we don’t expect every one of these to come true, we’re sure going to brag about the ones that do. Take it away, crystal ball!
Despite 
plenty of leaks, Microsoft has yet to officially confirm that it’s working on the next Xbox. But the first one may already have been sold.
An eBay auction over the weekend found a buyer for a purported Xbox ‘Durango’ Development Kit — a system game developers use to create games for the upcoming console. The buyer, who remained anonymous, shelled out $20,100 for the kit, which apparently looks like a black computer tower.
Despite 
plenty of leaks, Microsoft has yet to officially confirm that it’s working on the next Xbox. But the first one may already have been sold.
An eBay auction over the weekend found a buyer for a purported Xbox ‘Durango’ Development Kit — a system game developers use to create games for the upcoming console. The buyer, who remained anonymous, shelled out $20,100 for the kit, which apparently looks like a black computer tower.
Nintendo 
and Sony took pains to avoid mentioning their next-generation console systems at this year’s E3 videogame conference. But their publishing partners had plenty to say.
While no independent publishers were willing to come out and call the graphically-intense games they had on display “next generation,” many quietly confirmed that they were showcasing what consumers can expect to see when the Xbox 720 and PlayStation 4 finally hit the market in late 2013.
As 
Nintendo prepares to launch the Wii U later this year and Microsoft andSony gear up for expected 2013 launches for their next generation consoles, there’s a sense of excitement building in the videogame industry — but there’s also a sense of fear.
The market has changed considerably since the launch of the Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 — and while new console launches used to be a surefire way to reinvigorate both core and casual gamers, nobody’s certain if that will happen this time.
You 
probably saw all the headlines that hit the internet in late January: “Next Xbox to prevent you from playing used games!”
In terms of headlines, that’s a doozy. In terms of credibility, it’s unknown. But in terms of business strategy? It’s incredibly risky.
Microsoft still 
isn’t talking about the successor to the Xbox 360, but that’s not stopping the grapevine from speculating about the new features it will offer.
The company received a patent late last year for a device that would serve as both a game console and a digital video recorder — and that has people wondering if the next Xbox will have an even bigger role in the living room.
Chris Morris: Journalist 