More Next Xbox Rumours Emerge, While ‘Deal With it’ Exec Reportedly Parts Company with Microsoft

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Lee Bradley

Further rumours regarding the next Xbox have begun circulating, this time focusing on the console’s media capabilities and the existence of an 'Xbox Mini'.

According to a report from The Verge, the next Xbox will overlay its features and user interface on top of existing stations, in a similar manner to Google TV.

In this way the next Xbox will act as a kind of manager for all manner of TV-related web apps, facilitated by a HDMI out slot on the console.

With this in mind all those rumours of the next Xbox being ‘always-online’ make a little more sense. The console would have to be connected at all times in order to function properly.

Meanwhile, the same report also claims that the next Kinect, heavily rumoured to be bundled with the next Xbox, will be better equipped to detect multiple users as well as eye movement.

This latter functionality will be used to pause TV when users look away.

All of which is kinda cool and very interesting. But as we sit here writing the sixteen millionth next Xbox rumour of the last few weeks, something strikes us. What about the games?

Microsoft has been leaking more heavily than my Nan recently, with a new rumour post springing up almost every day. But you know what? None of them have been about games. Not one.

We’ve got a horrible feeling that when the next Xbox is finally announced, in an event rumoured for May 21st, there’s going to be a whole load of waffle about media and Kinect functionality and not a hell of a lot about video games.

We hope we’re wrong of course and this is purely us speculating, but considering Microsoft’s recent trajectory, it wouldn’t surprise us.

These latest reports are even claiming that Microsoft is going to launch a low-cost “Xbox TV” set-top box next year, which may or may not relate to an 'Xbox Mini' rumour circulated by VG Leaks.

The Xbox Mini is described as a budget, standalone product with Xbox 360 functionality. The report says that the machine doesn't have a disc drive, but it would be able to play Xbox 360 games bought via Games On Demand on Xbox Live.

In related news, the Microsoft exec that inspired the rage of the internet last week following bullish Twitter comments about always-online tech, is said to have exited the company.

According to GI, Creative Director Adam Orth resigned from his position. However, there is some speculation that he was ‘forced” to leave after dealing with the situation so indelicately.

Please bear in mind, however, that everything you read above is just rumours.

Comments
76
  • I'm pretty certain Mr Orth will have to learn to deal with it the hard way
  • Pause when you look away? Yes! That's the exact thing I've always wanted in a video game system!
  • I really hope I'm pleasantly surprised when the official reveal happens.
  • I'm happy Adam Orth resigned, the way he handled it was very immature. Also I don't why Xbox is pushing 'Always Online" down our throats. Some people can't have Internet all the time.
  • Orth deserved to get fired for his lack of, well, compassion really. It just seemed like he shot himself in the foot, ass and dick with those comments. I mean really, did he honestly think he could say those things, damage the little PR Microsoft has still, and get away with it?
  • "This latter functionality will be used to pause TV when users look away." Why do I imagine Microsoft development team playing a game of peek-a-boo with their TV whilst testing this?
  • We want rumours! *Clap, clap, clapclapclap* We want rumours! *Clap, clap, clapclapclap* We want rumours! *Clap, clap, clapclapclap* "This latter functionality will be used to pause TV when users look away." HOLY SHIT I look away from the TV all the time when I get bored to scratch myself, especially when a fight gets boring or the news is currently talking about something I don't care for. Damn. That can't be right. Hope your Nan recovers. :(
  • I agree Lee, it looks like the 720 is aiming to be a Service Box rather than a game's console, and while that's a perfectly good (and probably very smart) business decision I think its a bit disingenuous when Microsoft was THE hardcore gamers console (the mentality, I mean). It looks like the PS4 is being much more friendly to the gamer this time around, and as much as it pains me to say (as I love the Microsoft gaming community) if Microsoft doedn't come out and prove its still focused on video games I shall be picking up a PS4 and not a 720, and that makes me sad.
  • You know... sometimes people get fired #dealwithit
  • Eye detection sounds neat but so did the first Kinect and we all saw how that played out. Making it a media hub for apps is still no excuse for forcing people who will only or primarily play games to 'have' to be online. Sounds like that Microsoft exec who 'resigned' might of in his own asinine way was telling the truth of were Xbox is heading and though I cant condone how he went about it at least he didn't hide behind double talk and try to skirt around the truth. Microsoft didn't deny the claims either they just said that he didn't speak for Microsoft, they could of said that they did not stand behind his claims and that more would be announced in May.
  • Is this console even going to play games? My god!
  • I know these are just rumours but every one I read gets me more and more worried about the new Xbox. Sony did well with their PS4 reveal so MS needs to start appealing to those that made their system a success - gamers.
  • Sounds like this guy didn't know what he was talking about and just defended Microsoft rumors. I honestly don't think the 720 is going to have the "always online" requirement. Doing so would honestly just be suicide for the console since Sony has said it won't be using the feature.
  • Shoving Kinect down my throat and causing me to be "always on" is really curdling my stomach. PC, why did I ever leave you?
  • 'The report says that the machine doesn't have a disc drive, but it would be able to play Xbox 360 games bought via Games On Demand on Xbox Live.' This would need to be a false rumour, surely. It defeats the point of backwards computability really if we can't play our games, if that's what this things function is. Sure, at least it would be an option, unlike the ps4's situation, but its still not really all of what people wanted. There are far to many rumours on things that are completely unrelated to games, I have no idea of any games that may be in the release lineup for this next console. I've not even seen a whisper of a title. I just wish may 21st would hurry up and get here, so that we can finally put all of our worries to rest, hopefully. I'm not surprised that he stepped down at all, considering his position, he was completely out of line to say the things he said in the manor he did. Considering that was the first possible confirmation of something that we've been given by a reliable source, after these rumours have gotten worse and worse. Microsoft should of just nipped that rumour in the bud and said that it was false, that they didn't do that is one of the biggest things that's worrying me atm about this console.
  • Sometimes arrogant douchenozzles get exactly what they deserve. Brought back to reality. #dealwithit. I think they should START commenting on all this rumour and speculation, because so far literally everything about the PS4 seems superior. Achievements and exclusives be damned. I will not buy an always online device, nor one that i can't trade in a game if it disappoints me.
  • @15 The xbox mini in questions is rumoured to be one final release of the Xbox 360. NOT the next xbox.
  • What if I want the game to keep running when I look away or leave the room? It's easy enough to press the pause button on my controller. Honestly, a new games console to me is to still have a controller, and games to run faster and look better, that's all.
  • Nobody else thinks that automatically pausing when you look away is a horrible idea? I can only speak for myself, but I glance at random things around the room all the time while I watch something. Do I want to pause the show I can still hear just to spend 2 seconds reading my email inbox, or seeing what my cat is doing? Of course not. Knowing microsoft, I bet that function would be mandatory, too.
  • Unless he actually lied, he should not have been fired.
  • Please everyone do yourself a favor go to http://www.vgleaks.com/microsoft-xbox-roadmap-2013/ and read for yourself the durango does play games offline read everything! The xbox mini which is a 360 minus a disc drive will actually give us backwards compatibility when merged w the durango! I hate rumors and this link explains everything to where im super excited for may 21st now!
  • I don't want all this bollocks, I just want to play games!
  • The evil that is social networking. School boy error.
  • yey! now we just need that arsehole pants to resign and the world will be a better place.
  • The only reaaon why i would buy the xbox is the better graphic I dont need/want a -always online console - eyes sensor -New kinect - tv or whatever it will include . What do you guys think about the new xbox live, is it for free this time?
  • Microsoft ain't getting my money this time. Deal whit it.
  • @19 Exactly. At this moment I am watching a TV program on my XBOX while I read a and post here. So every 30 seconds or so I'm looking away from my TV. So the program I'm watching is going to be Pause>Unpause>Pause>Unpause. This 20 minute comedy is gonna take about 3 hours to watch. The Hobbit should take about a month!
  • Sorry dbl post but a 2nd thought occurred to me. If it is able to pick up multiple people, whose eyes is it watching? Both? Do you need to synchronize your glancing away?
  • I really don't feel sorry for Creative Director Adam Orth, the way he talked bad about countries that don't have internet ,saying why in the hell would I live there, I hope they ship him there, so he can know how it feels..
  • "Meanwhile, the same report also claims that the next Kinect, heavily rumoured to be bundled with the next Xbox, will be better equipped to detect multiple users as well as eye movement. This latter functionality will be used to pause TV when users look away." But...what's the need for this, honestly?
  • I hope I don't have to have Kinect. Even my 5 year old got bored of that.
  • It s all rumors until we got confirmation thats wat it is... Just rumors
  • 'the next Xbox will overlay its features and user interface on top of existing stations, in a similar manner to Google TV. bla blah blah With this in mind all those rumours of the next Xbox being ‘always-online’ make a little more sense. The console would have to be connected at all times in order to function properly.' STILL NOT INTERESTED IN THIS! IT IS ABOUIT GAMES YOU A-HOLE EXECS. 'Meanwhile, the same report also claims that the next Kinect, heavily rumoured to be bundled with the next Xbox, will be better equipped to detect multiple users as well as eye movement. This latter functionality will be used to pause TV when users look away.' TOTALLY CRAP & UNREQUIRED YOU DUMB ASS FUCKS! WHO CAN'T PAUSE THE TV/XBOX BY THEIR OWN VOLITION?!? FUCK NEXT GEN, YOU CAN HAVE IT BACK. *puts on the kettle* *pre-orders nextbox*
  • @17, ah, well thats a bit worse then, or it may be if theres no form of backwards compatibility at all. Just a side note, that eye thing wont work, it's not practical, it'd mean any time you look away to do anything, you're video would pause, including if someone talks to you, you're eyes wander, you're reading/working, you're eating and look down at you're food. That'll be just rumour, given how unreliable kinect is now, theres no way it'd be reliable for something like that already in a manor that would work well.
  • No Gta5 at launch means no new console this year. thats really all you need to know. besides it wont be like when the xbox 360 launched, there are to amny consoles out there. its very likley that we will see triple a support throught the next 2 years on our 360s. Plus 360s are still selling for $299 and there are plenty of new games coming for it. Stop posting this garbage and get working on some site features.
  • The $500 dollar rumor makes sense since there was a previous rumor of having Kinect 2.0 built-in.
  • I don't know anyone who uses there Xbox for anything other than games. Occasionally some friends of mine use it for Sky Sports, but that relies on you already having a Sky subscription. From personal experience, in the UK at least I cant see why we need all this extra stuff. I can get it all on my laptop through internet cheaper/free and using a much more user friendly interface. The Xbox 360 sucks ass for the web. GIVE ME GAMES!
  • So if my girlfriend looks away from a horror movie it'll just pause until she watches again :D
  • Not excited anymore for new Xbox whether its always online I'll decide if I wanna be online thank U very much and now more tv shit on it so the new Xbox is gonna be able to be on for countless hours and never overheat and never get the next ring of death who are these clowns that are designing it because there definitely not gamers. Bye bye gamerscore if they keep going on the way there going, I'll just go back to pc and playstation
  • Honestly, they say there is no such thing as 'bad' publicity. I wouldn't be overly surprised if all these rumors were happening in an attempt to bring more conversation about the new system and on reveal day everyone will be watching. Then they will reveal what we all want and all this rumor business will be totally forgotten. That is my hope anyway, Microsoft does this kinda stunt a lot anyways.
  • People need to chill out. You dont want the kinect to pause your stuff? Then turn it off. I really wish you guys would stop posting all this rumor stuff. Because Nobody seems to realize that its all just rumor. . .
  • @21: I'll check out the link but there's only one way a discless Xbox to "facilitate backwards compatibility" would actually work. If there's some means of being able to download every game I own on disc, whether that's by entering in the bar number on the bottom left (which is where I believe it is) on the box of said game or some other measure. Otherwise I'm just supposed to be excited abour buying my whole library again. And I don't give a rats behind about all the TV support for the nextbox. Nothing justifies always on if I just want to play a damn game. Orth's comments pissed me off but making him a sacrifcial lamb for the sake of a scapegoat for a bad tech decision isn't cool. Don't make the decision in the first place. I'm holding out hope they won't.
  • @41: I know right? I'm of all this speculation (and unsupported whining) about features that are nothing but rumor. Honestly, I hope all but the "always-online" are true. I love gaming and having the Xbox be even more so the center of my living room would further simplify my life. I just hope we (the achievement/gamerscore community) get some mention in the official reveal.
  • Been playing my original Xbox games this week - you know, back when Microsoft worried about actually releasing great games rather than this Netflix/ESPN/Sky/Kinect rubbish. It is really depressing to see how much the Xbox brand has gone downhill over the past couple of years and I can't see them pedalling back anytime soon :(
  • The way this new Xbox is going I'm leaning toward a ps4 or even a pc I don't want my xbox to control my tv I have a remote for that My guess when Microsoft does the "big reveal" they are going to show how great the new kinect will be and to be honest I dint give a shit. I'm really hoping all these rumors are fake I just want a console that plays games and has netflix and other apps that the 360 has But we'll just have to wait until may
  • @41 think you need to nip over to Kotaku pal and read what info theyve been given by their insider who has NEVER posted a false rumour
  • Whether this all be rumour or not, the mid-part of this article hit the nail on the head for me. Not one mention of games in any of these leaks. I don't mind me the Kinect being able to tell if I'm looking away so it pauses whatever I'm watching, and if that is the thing that requires an 'always online' thing, whatever - but I want a games console for games. Nothing else. And as a gamer, I have to say, what the hell is this Google TV they're trying to simulate? Again, I buy a games console for games. I don't watch TV on my Xbox now, I didn't plan on doing so with whatever gaming console I get next gen. I don't ever hardly watch TV now even though I'm paying for Sky - I'm a gamer, whatever spare time I have I'll spend it playing a game or two. So why the hell does it seem like doing things that isn't gaming, is being forced down my throat, when I purchase this (if I do)? I miss the PlayStation 2/Gamecube/Xbox era. Just stick in a game and go.
  • @47 "I miss the PlayStation 2/Gamecube/Xbox era. Just stick in a game and go." Absolutely! Dusted off my PS2, Gamecube and Dreamcast this week and have been having a blast playing my older games. Granted some games haven't aged particularly well but a lot of them are just as enjoyable now as they were when I first played them. Putting a disk in a tray without worrying about DLC, updates, online passes, installs and all that other rubbish is very refreshing :D
  • Na na na naaaaaaa! Na na na naaaaaaa! Eeeeeeeeeh! Goodbye! So Adam ... I hear your actions have cost you your job at Microsoft!? #dealwithit
  • Even if the always online feature makes sense... it dont in the same way. I for one us my xbox for games and games only. Why youtube on xbox when I have pcs and laptops. Why watch live television on the xbox when I pay a monthly fee for cable? That always online feature is stupid to even think about. But one thing I can eas up alittle bit on is being able to us pre owned games yes its not confirmed but when you hear that the big boss of game stop is talking all high and mighty about how amazing this new box is gonna be it makes me thing if hes saying that then theres a high chance that pre owned is not gone!
  • The more "rumors" come out, the happier I get that I'll be saving thousands a year by NOT getting a new console. None, and I mean NONE of the new shit being rumored about interests me in any way. Always on, DRM, Kinect, media console.. blahblahblah. I want to play games, off disk OR downloaded, that I buy new OR used, on OR offline. If I can't do that, like I've always been able to, then I'm done. I have cable for TV, my BluRay player for movies and my laptop for the Internet, so all I want my Xbox for is for gaming. Nothing more. They add extra shit, fine, but not at the expense of the purity of gaming, which is pretty much dead at this point anyway.
  • "resigned" My arse, more like "he revealed something, now he can either resign or we'll fire him" I suppose resigning is more about pride, where if he was fired the media would have blown up saying stuff like "ZMONG THE RUMOZ R TRUUUU" Gotta love the idiocy of the people.
  • I'll be doing the same thing #8 will be doing.
  • @50, the always online feature will also mean that when it's no longer supported, all you'll have is a big paper weight, everyting you owned would be worthless.
  • I dont even care anymore....M$ wins.....they have everyone talking about their console without really announcing anything. For all I know the tweet by Orth could have been a publicity stunt.
  • @46 I trust "insiders" and "anonymous sources" about as much As I'd trust giving you the keys to my car!
  • GG noob
  • I'm still not believing any rumours until microsoft actually shows off their new console officially. Until then people need to chill out with their opinions on this, it could all be false information for all we know. Just don't believe everything on the internet when it comes to rumours is what i'm saying
  • @58 that state farm commericial taught me that you can't put anything on the internet if it isnt true
  • @35 Pretty sure its this year
  • I'm pretty sure there will be games. No games leaked out before Ps4 either. It'll be fine.
  • I'm not sure what I think about the "pause when you look away" thing. I've never watched anything on my Xbox, and I never plan to.....but I'm the kind of person that doesn't just sit and watch TV. I do other things with the TV on, or surf on my laptop and watch tv at the same time. I rarely just sit with my eyeballs staring directly at the TV. Honestly, that just sounds like some weird. Sh*t. #48, I hooked up my Dreamcast about 3 weeks ago...loving it! While I'm not thinking about getting the next Xbox, I'm considering picking up an ORIGINAL Xbox before the summer :D
  • @62 - Must admit I too am considering picking up an original Xbox. £20 seems to be the going rate for one these days and some of my favourite Xbox games (GTA3, Forza, etc) don't exacting run smoothly on 360. Plus I loved the controllers :D
  • I bet is has a disc drive, but will ONLY play X720 games/dvd/bluray To play 360 games, will need t6o repurchase them on Games on Demand... I'm hoping if we already purchased them, we can dl them for free. As far as always online... welcome to the future deal with it, or buy a ps4... If its true, i will be buying a ps4 first.. maybe a 720 later... Thank you for making my mind up for me Microsoft... and glad that exec was fired/asked to step down/layed off/whatever happened... He deserved to lose his job... funny thing is, hes prolly right tho... even tho my internet goes out sometimes...
  • It seems as if this article was only written to stir people up, while this site is always quick to point out that these are just rumors and not to take them to heart why would you write a article that says looks like the new Xbox will be about everything but games when nothing has still been talked about by Microsoft. And game developers make the games not the people who worked on the new Xbox so how could they leak info about games anyway? Just because the developers are keeping their games behind closed doors until they reveal them doesn't mean they don't exist it just means they don't have leaks all over the place like MS. This is probably the only article I've ever read on this site that I thought had no business being here, this reads more like a blog than a news article. Congrats on all the comments for your article though.
  • "The Xbox Mini is described as a budget, standalone product with Xbox 360 functionality. The report says that the machine doesn't have a disc drive, but it would be able to play Xbox 360 games bought via Games On Demand on Xbox Live." A couple of weeks ago I was kneeling down to put a game in my Xbox. I lost my balance, fell backwards and landed in my chair. But, in that split second in which I was falling, instinct kicked in and my hand shot out to find something to grab hold of. Unfortunately, as my arm was already outstretched, my hand on it's way to drop a game in my disc tray, what I ended up doing was palm striking that disc tray, bending it down at a 45 degree angle. No more disc tray. I considered the console broken and bought a new one. Silly me, I didn't realise I'd just made myself an Xbox Mini.
  • HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA YESSSSS, FUCK YOU ADAM OORTH, YOU BEEN FIRED HAVE YOU?????? #DEALWITHIT HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH CUNT CUNT CUNT CUNT CUNT
  • pause when you look away? So now every time I'm watching or playing something and turn to cough or sneeze my tv stops? I'd find that more annoying than missing 2 seconds of dialog. Why even waste money on developing that technology? Isn't that the reason your controller has a PAUSE button on it? Or does M$ think everyone is to lazy to push a button? Who knows, maybe I'm the minority and people actually find this appealing.
  • The new Kinect will also track hand movements. In the event you place your hand on your stomach, the buildt-in 3D printer will make you a sandwich. The nextbox will then pause while you eat, which will be verified by Kinect. If sales reach desired levels, we at Microsoft will release an attachment to nextbox that will actually allow you to play games!
  • I heard the next Xbox is going to be 7 feet tall and and shoot lightning bolts out of it's disc tray.
  • Microsoft, please.I just want to play games, not to have a box that is filled up with TONS of useless(read region locked) things. #68 Pause button is too mainstream for Microsoft.
  • Can it wipe my ass too?
  • God, this is getting to be a bummer, I just want a gaming system, an awesome gaming system built around the games... That is where my money is going. I sure as shit don't want Kinect, or any social network crap. JUST GAMING! Can MS just release a base level 720, with the ability to play games, and get on XBLive. No need for anything else on my Xbox. I would rather not go to the Sony camp, MS: come through for your gamers!
  • For me anyway, the always online function of the next-generation Xbox will be a deal breaker. I don't care how much it can do to my TV, how advanced Kinect 2.0 is or how pretty the graphics are. If it can't function offline it's a no sale for me. I like to take my Xbox with me when I go places and not all of those places have internet. I refuse to pay for something this expensive that will be useless that frequently. I just hope that Microsoft isn't really that stupid...
  • "...will be used to pause TV when users look away." I wonder if this was a feature or a bug ...
  • Always online and will control my TV? Microsoft im out nice knowing you. Hello Sony
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