We may actually see the new Xbox 720 earlier than expected. There had been numerous rumors about the launch date of the next generation of Xbox, but IGN reported Thursday that the assembling of the new Microsoft game console has already begun in Austin, Texas Branch of Flextronics.
According to the report, the manufacturer of Xbox 360 has finished a testing of marketing, software, and hardware of the next console. With the conclusion of the testing phase, the electronic company started building the new hardware, dubbed "Durango", as IGN reports.
Xbox 720 has been on the hot seat for various rumors. One of the rumors is an equipping of AMD's latest 6670 chip that supports DirectX11, multi-display, 3D, and others. The console is also rumored to have more powerful technologies, such as Kinect. Skype, which Microsoft acquired last year, has also been linked to be integrated with the new console. Another is that Xbox 720 plans to feature a 16 core CPU powered by IBM, making it a hardware behemoth even amongst high end PCs.
According to Xbox World magazine, the extra processors would offer mind blowing graphics and enough firepower to support Microsoft's next gen of Kinect games. If this is the case, then Xbox 720 will have the capability to have its motion controllers and sensors details track players down to their fingertips.
Its new processors will mean faster running time for shaders that render 3D objects. That amounts to enhanced gameplay with realistic looking graphics and minimized loading times. IGN expected that the hardware being assembled now are for game developers.
The date of the release has not been reported. Microsoft has clearly stated that a new console will not be at the upcoming E3 video game conference, so we may have to wait a while to see it actually be available in the market. Xbox competitor Nintendo will be looking to make a splash with the debut of its next-gen Wii U console at this year's E3.
Nintendo Wii U and PlayStation 4 Orbis are speculated to have their launch before the Xbox 720.
Microsoft has been also rumored to plan a $99 game console, but we don't know at this point whether the two are related. The $99 price could be associated with the existing Xbox 360 and its Kinect peripheral services or a watered down Xbox 360 console. In a report from Forbes, the Xbox 720 was once rumored to carry a hefty $500 price tag, considering all the advanced hardware capabilities it holds.
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