New Report Suggests Two (Very Different) Next-Gen Xbox SKUs Planned

 
With just a month left of 2012, we're on the eve of a whole new year that's sure to be packed with all sorts of gaming goodness. As the industry eagerly awaits hardware announcements by both Sony and Microsoft, rumors continue to circulate throughout the web quite regularly, and The Verge has a bit of fuel to add to the fire.

According to the outlet, "multiple sources familiar with Redmond's plans" have revealed that in addition to the high-powered dedicated gaming machine that we're all expecting from Microsoft, the company is prepping a more streamlined version that is geared toward a casual audience.

This second option won't be able to play the big budget releases, but will instead support smaller downloadable titles available on Xbox Live. It is also said to run on Windows 8 and function like Apple TV, providing users with access to a suite of apps—which I'm guessing includes Netflix, Hulu and HBO GO.

Apparently, this is all part of Microsoft's effort to expand its gaming service beyond the conventional box, as scalability of the Xbox software across a wide array of platforms (including smartphones) is on their to do list. Oh yeah, and this is all supposed to happen by the end of next year.

Assuming that this truly is Microsoft's plan, do you think this new approach is a wise move? Let us know in the comments below.

[Via]

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