Microsoft Unveils the Xbox One

Following months of speculation, Microsoft has officially unveiled the successor to the Xbox 360: the Xbox One. Designed not only for next-generation gaming but also intended to be a comprehensive entertainment experience, the Xbox One was described by Microsoft’s own Don Mattrick as a device “where all of your entertainment comes alive in one place” – an all-in-one system offering a “simple, instant, and complete” experience. Now incorporating Kinect right out of the box, the machine features voice control capabilities and gesture recognition technology for navigating its start-up interface, while the machine itself boasts 8GB of RAM, a 500GB on-board hard drive, native 64-bit architecture, HDMI input and output, built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi, an 8-core CPU, and USB 3.0 connectivity. Notably, the device scraps the Xbox 360 HD DVD drive in favor of Blu-ray discs. Furthermore, the new controller is obviously based on that of the Xbox 360, albeit with a more contemporary look and an integrated battery compartment for wireless connectivity. Finally, users can expect the Xbox One to offer DVR capabilities, as well as a plethora of cloud functionalities via Xbox LIVE. Although pricing details have yet to be revealed, Microsoft stated that the system would launch “later this year.” Head on over to the official Xbox site for a look at the highly-anticipated reveal and stay tuned for further info on the upcoming next-gen Xbox.