James Delahunty
9 Mar 2012 21:17
Report suggests Microsoft informed partners that it is dropped a disc drive in its next console.
That's according to MCV, anyway, who also claim to have confirmed a 2013 launch date for the hardware. The revelations come from an MCV source who said the briefings were issued under the "strictest NDA" they have encountered.
The console reportedly will work with some kind of interchangeable solid-state card storage, but its unknown whether it will be proprietary technology or a widely established standard.
MCV suggests that the new Xbox may even show up at E3 this year, which would make sense if a 2013 release target is accurate.
When MCV contacted Microsoft about the report, the company didn't exactly deny it, and just referred to how the Xbox 360 has extended its lifespan.
"Xbox 360 has found new ways to extend its lifecycle like introducing the world to controller-free experiences with Kinect and re-inventing the console with a new dashboard and new entertainment content partnerships. We are always thinking about what is next for our platform and how to continue to defy the lifecycle convention. Beyond that we do not comment on rumors or speculation."