Xbox 720 : The Next-Gen Console

The new Xbox - Microsoft's next-generation console - is set to be revealed this May 21  at Microsoft's campus in Redmond, Washington.

Will it be always online?

• The elephant in the room will be the issue of whether the console will require an always-online internet connection to play games and services.

• The latest rumor suggests that certain features such as single-player titles, Blu-ray playback and watching live TV will be available offline.

• It's also said that whether games will be playable offline will be dependent on the publisher, rather than a strict, console-wide enforcement.

A focus on services

• The new Xbox  is a set-top box designed for streaming and downloading movies, music and TV content.

• One rumor says there will be live TV playback, while another suggests DVR-style recording.

• Elsewhere, it's suggested that Xbox Live Achievements and friends lists will be revamped, adding more flexible rewards and Twitter-style following.

• It may also see the debut of the much-rumored Xbox TV.

Games won't dominate the conference

• Microsoft has said its full lineup of games won't appear until its E3 press conference in June.

• Call of Duty: Ghosts, which will be the first next-generation game in the series, will make its debut appearance at the briefing.

• EA is also rumored to have an exclusivity deal in place with Microsoft next generation, so maybe we'll see an appearance of Battlefield 4 as well.

• We could also see a few first party unveils, such as the rumored Forza Motorsport 5, Project Gotham Racing 5, Ryse and possibly some new properties.

A new Kinect, but a familiar controller

• The next-generation motion sensing camera is said to be far more advanced, with a higher resolution tracking up to six users at a much closer range, and featuring a standing and sitting mode.

• It should also detect more joints, eye movements and offer Siri-like voice functionality.

• As for the controller, it's unlikely to be different to the Xbox 360, and won't feature a touch screen as seen with the PS4.

• A report has suggested it will be slightly smaller, and while stripes have been said to be part of the design, it's likely this is a feature for development kits only.

What not to expect

• As previously mentioned, don't expect too many games, especially as Microsoft's E3 press conference will be just weeks away.

Launch date?

• Microsoft's next-generation console - is set to be revealed this May 21  at Microsoft's campus in Redmond, Washington.

• Microsoft analyst Paul Thurot has guessed at an early November launch, with two price points: $499 for an outright purchase of the console, or a $299 option which gets you the machine but commits you to an Xbox Live subscription, possibly for two years. 

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