Xbox 720 Reportedly Coming Holiday 2013

Microsoft is reportedly planning to release its next console in time for the 2013 holiday season. According to a new rumor from Bloomberg,
people “familiar with the company’s plans” say the new system is aiming
to take advantage of Thanksgiving and Christmas sales, though the
sources chose to remain anonymous “because the product road map is
confidential.”

Microsoft is said to still be deciding when the console will be
revealed, currently weighing a reveal at E3 against a separate,
dedicated event like the announcement of the Xbox 360 in 2005.

Bloomberg’s report seemingly confirms earlier rumors about the next Xbox’s release timing, including word from developers that the next generation will begin in 2013 and multiple rumors suggesting Microsoft is aiming for the end of next year.
While nothing is set in stone, a late 2013 launch is feasible considering Xbox 720 development kits are already in the wild and Microsoft is reportedly beefing up security to prepare. Recent rumors suggest Microsoft could even be prepping two versions of its next console.

We’ve reached out to Microsoft about the rumor, but it typically
doesn’t comment on rumor or speculation so we aren’t expecting to hear
much. While details on the next Xbox are thin, find out what we know so
far in our analysis of one of Microsoft’s recent patents as well as Microsoft’s plans for an immersive display experience.

Microsoft’s Vancouver studio has been rebranded as Black Tusk Studios. According to Black Tusk’s official site,
the studio “is dedicated to creating immersive, AAA games that push the
limits of Microsoft's entertainment platforms.” The studio is currently
hiring for multiple positions and aims to “define Microsoft's next big
entertainment franchise.”

While the studio’s first project hasn’t been revealed, a job listing for a lead environment artist suggests the team is working on a “AAA console title” while a post for a senior gameplay engineer seeks a candidate with “experience with multiplayer and/or co-op gameplay development.”

A listing for a senior visual effects engineer
is seeking a candidate with DirectX11 experience, among other things.
While the Xbox 360 doesn’t provide DirectX11 support, it’s heavily rumored to be included in Microsoft’s next console, suggesting that Black Tusk’s game could be for next-generation consoles.



In an interview with the Vancouver Sun,
Black Tusk studio head Mike Crump commented that “We’re not working on
an existing franchise, we’re looking to build the next Halo here in
Vancouver, for example, which is really exciting. We are building
something from the ground up.”

Little other information on Black Tusk Studios is currently
available, but keep checking back to IGN for new developments as they’re
revealed.