Microsoft is currently researching the potential/consumer appeal of hardware that would combine Xbox and PC gaming capabilities, CNN Money is reporting.
The kit is reportedly being referred to as Xbox Next PC, with Californian market research company B/R/S Group gathering consumer feedback on the machine. The hardware is described as a console featuring a hard-drive and a "built-in fully functional PC."
According to the report, a PC monitor or HDTV would be the required VDU for the Xbox Next PC - backing up Xbox chief J Allard's comment to CVG that next-gen will be "all about high definition". It would be backwards compatible with current Xbox titles, play next-generation Xbox titles, play PC games, run a full version of Windows and come with a CD burner and DVD player.
Additionally, built-in Xbox Live access would feature, along with a remote control for the DVD player, a mouse and keyboard and a Xbox controller. For the purposes of the research, price point of the device was $599 (roughly £325).
Considering Microsoft's recent XNA showcase, part of which involved talk of plans to share technology between Xbox and PC, the Xbox Next PC isn't such a bolt of the blue as you might at first think.
But Xbox Next PC is far from set in stone, according to the Redmond giant itself. Instead it's one of many possible concepts that could see the light of day as Microsoft puts out feelers to gauge direction for the next generation scene.
"We would be remiss if we didn't look at consumer scenarios that take advantage of our strengths," corporate vice president of worldwide marketing and publishing for Microsoft's home and entertainment division Peter Moore told CNN Money.
"[But] this is one amongst many, many other consumer scenarios that we're looking at," Moore said.
He added: "If you put two and two together, there's no doubt there's a great opportunity to put the two platforms together. Obviously with a company like Microsoft this is something we have to look into and ask about. Is it actionable today? Probably not, but it's something we need to look at."
Xbox Next PC it might just happen.
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). Truthfully, i feel the say way about most of the added stuff they put in consoles these days. I already have a dvd player and cd player, i dont need all that extra stuff jacking up the price. As far as it being a pc, then you have to worry about the operating system and/or other programs draining the resources that should be used on gaming.
Originally Posted by jelgiad
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