Microsoft Gears For Xbox TV

 

  • Windows 8-based
  • Always-on feature
  • 2013 launch

Microsoft is reportedly looking into television set-top boxes next, as rumours of an Xbox TV circulate.

According to reports, Microsoft said that Xbox TV will be based on Windows 8 with a focus on casual games and entertainment services.

 

  • Windows 8-based
  • Always-on feature
  • 2013 launch

Microsoft is reportedly looking into television set-top boxes next, as rumours of an Xbox TV circulate.

According to reports, Microsoft said that Xbox TV will be based on Windows 8 with a focus on casual games and entertainment services.

It will also have fast boot time and always-on functionality. The always-on feature sounds remarkably similar to the cloud-based TV platform Microsoft is developing.

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 is known to have drawn in both casual gaming and more traditional users, with both traditional games available alongside Kinect functionality and entertainment apps.

The company is now trying out a risky move of segmenting the audience. Launching the Xbox TV will be in line with Microsoft's two-system strategy for its next generation of game consoles. Xbox TV will zone in on a more causal gaming audience, while a second dedicated game console, commonly referred to as Xbox 720, will offer a more traditional Xbox experience.

Launch date for both the Xbox TV and Xbox 720 will likely be sometime in 2013.