‘Xbox 720′ slated for November 2013 release claims

Microsoft plans to launch its next-generation Xbox video game and home entertainment console ahead of the holidays next year, according to a recent report. The Los Angeles Times on Monday published a developer contract between Acitivision Blizzard and famed Halo developers Bungie. The firms are currently working on a new Massively Multiplayer Online franchise called Destiny, which will be a first-person shooter with a science fiction theme. While the fact that the companies currently have four titles planned for the series is exciting for gamers in itself, another tidbit may be even more titillating; the contract suggests that the first Destiny title will launch ahead of the holidays next year as an exclusive for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and its next-generation console, which the document refers to as the “Xbox 720.” An earlier report from an industry industry insider suggested that Microsoft will launch an ARM-based “Xbox lite” in late 2013 followed by a true Xbox 360 successor some time later, however this new information suggests that timeline may not be accurate.by zach epstein

3D feature for Xbox 720

The new rumors keep popping up in connection with the immediate announcement of the latest-generation Xbox, the Xbox 720. Clearly, this console will be even stronger in the more stunning graphical displays, some rumor also mentions that Microsoft wants to develop it further as a home entertainment device. Microsoft had mentioned the possibility of integration of the 3D capabilities to be presented in this console, and a new job announcement indicates that they are still working hard to bring these features in the Xbox 720.

BGR recently found a new job listings posted by Microsoft in Haifa, Israel to find someone who could fill the position of the ‘Algorithm Research & Development Engineer to the XBOX team’. This position will work closely with the Interactive Entertainment Business unit of Microsoft that is responsible for ‘algorithm for the design and implementation in the form of 3D imaging systems in a joint team of hardware and software division, working with colleagues who are in Redmond, and is able to merge to the development team is moving and growing quickly. ‘

The vacancy information does not provide more detailed information, but from the job description mentioned clearly indicates that Microsoft is really serious in preparing this 3D feature. 3D gaming growing in popularity may be due to factors ranging widespread use of 3D HDTV, but it seems the gaming industry is still not really ready to optimize your existing content in their game into a 3D shape.

Microsoft will probably announce this latest generation Xbox console at the E3 trade show an annual event, although for the release may still have to wait much longer, namely in 2013. It remains unclear whether the latest 3D features will be presented simultaneously on the Xbox 720 or the following will be presented separately some time after the launch of the Xbox 720.

XBOX 720 DVR Included???

Xbox 3, Xbox 720, NextBox… whatever  lots of rumors are being floated about Microsoft's next home console. Some say it'll output Avatar-level visuals while others say it'll lean heavily on cloud architecture. But the latest hint as to Microsoft's gaming future point to their ever-increasing ambition to fuse TV, film and gaming content.
On December 27th, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office granted a patent to Microsoft for a device that would serve as both a game console and a digital video recorder. Patent # 8,083,593 gets described thusly:

A digital video recorder (DVR) application running alongside a television client component allows users to record media content on the gaming console. The DVR application also integrates itself with the console menu. Once integrated, users can record media content while playing games. Alternatively, users can record content when the gaming console is turned off. The recorded content can include television programming, gaming experience (whether local or online), music, DVDs, and so on. When in the recording state, users can also switch between various other media modes, whether gaming, television, and so on.

Rumors of such a set-top box go back as far as 2007, when the patent was originally applied for, and former CEO Bill Gates was expected to announce something with many of these features at that year's CES. The proposed device would be able to record video content while a user's playing a game and would also be able to record even if the game-playing portion is powered off. It sounds an awful lot like sleep-mode functionality of the current DVRs on the market today but with a console game layer on top of it all.

Right now, the newest dashboard update makes the Xbox 360 into a streaming media hub, with content coming in from all sorts of partner apps. If the technology and aspirations in this patent make it to market, the focus in Microsoft's gaming hardware will shift from streaming to recording and storage. That might rankle content providers, who'll probably only get twitchier about letting their programming live on various devices.

  the ideas in this patent may take years to show up in the real world. And the usual caveat about patents applies, too, which is that we may never see it at all. But, given Microsoft's continued drive to make the Xbox a dominating force in the living room, I think we're going to see some of these features whenever Microsoft reveals its next-generation hardware.kotaku source

Unreal Tournament 4 Releasing For Next Generation Console

Looking forward to the next next-gen (8th console generation) Unreal Engine 4.0 is expected to be released with Unreal Tournament 4 to show off its prowess, as with every new Unreal Engine comes a showpiece, usually an Unreal game. An example of this happened before the release of Unreal Engine 3, when Epic Games’ own projects — Gears of War and Unreal Tournament 2007 (later renamed to Unreal Tournament 3) — were touted as the company’s showcase titles for the latest Unreal technology.
Back in August 2005, Epic Games vice president Mark Rein revealed that the creators of the Unreal games and technology have already begun work [two years before in 2003] on what will eventually become Unreal Engine 4.
unreal tournamentEpic Games boss Tim Sweeney, who’s been working on the Unreal Engine 4 core system design as the technical director, said in March 2008: “There is a long life ahead for Unreal Engine 3. [Unreal Engine] Version 4 will exclusively target the next console generation, Microsoft’s successor for the Xbox 360 [AKA Xbox 720], Sony’s successor for the PlayStation 3 [AKA PlayStation 4] – and if Nintendo ships a machine with similar hardware specs [AKA Wii 2], then that also. PCs will follow after that.” Mark Rein later clarified that Tim Sweeney meant that Unreal Engine 4 was coming to PC, and that “When Tim Sweeney was talking about Unreal Engine 4 … he mentioned something along the lines of it being exclusively for the next generation of consoles… what he meant was, it won’t run on this generation of consoles.”
For those interested, Unreal Engine 4 development will fully start sometime in 2008. With the next generation of consoles not expected to launch until around 2011-2012, it’ll be a while before you’ll be fragging photo-realistic enemies in Unreal Tournament 4.

references teamxbox,tgdaily,wikipedia