The latest set of rumors surrouding Microsoft's upcoming next generation console are that the Xbox 720 will see an official release in November 2013 and sell for $300 with a subscription-based model. The standard model will be sold at around $500.
The news comes from the well-known Microsoft insider Paul Thurrott, who said the next Xbox (Code-named: Durango aka Xbox 720) will be an expensive console. Talking at the latest What The Tech episode (via NeoGAF) , Thurrott claimed that Xbox 720 will not be the only new Xbox for this season. According to him, Microsoft will release a $99 'Stingray' Xbox 360 later this year. However, he did not give out further information about this platform.
If the predicted price of $500 for the next-gen Xbox turns out to be true, it will mark a significant price hike from the Xbox 360 launch, which was released with $299.99 and $399.99 price tags. Given the high price of the device, Microsoft is planning to introduce a subscription model for the console, similar to its earlier experiment last year where consumers were able to pick up an Xbox 360 console for $99.99 with a two year subscription to Xbox LIVE Gold at $14.99 month.
Contrary to an earlier rumor of a possible late April release, Thurrott said Xbox 720 will be announced on May 21. He also threw some light on the rumored non-gaming version of a new console codenamed Yumo, which is said to be a device that would work as a set-top box for streaming movies and music. Although the company has not abandoned its work on this product, the device will not be released this year.
