Microsoft will reveal what gamers can look forward to at their official Xbox announcement event on May 21st, while customers and industry players fuel the rumor mill with ecstatic speculation. Expect possible confirmation on everything from an upgraded next-generation operating system based on the core Windows 8 designed to seamlessly integrate with all other Microsoft products and applications, a duel pricing model (ranging from $299 to $499) tied to stand-alone and subscription services, "always-on" internet connection, and a Blu-Ray drive. The new Xbox, codenamed "Durango," will also be offered along with a new version of the current Xbox 360 with a codename of it's own, "Stingray," which will be sold at a cheaper price than the current 360 and may have an updated design itself.
Much of this information comes courtesy of Paul Thurrott, the long-time Windows blogger and insider who has a very good track record of being accurate on these matters, though the possibility of a mistake or partial-correction will continue until the final word from Microsoft tells us what we all want to know, and perhaps even more than we bargained for. This generation's gaming race is truly on, the battle between Sony, who beat Microsoft to the punch in their announcement, and now Microsoft, finally begun in earnest. The saga bound to unfold over the course of this year may determine the future of gaming, and console integration, for the next decade and more. Who, and what, will be the deciding factor, is yet to be seen.
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