Xbox 720 Has Blu-ray Drive and Kinect 2, Won’t Support Used Games

Another day, another report about the next Xbox console. This time we’re hearing that the device will have support for Sony’s Blu-ray technology and that a special system will be put in place to prevent the console from playing used games.

The Xbox 360 will still be around for quite some time, at least according to Microsoft itself, but this isn’t stopping a huge amount of rumors about its successor, the oft-rumored Xbox 720.

After hearing yesterday some details about its internal hardware, with IBM creating its system-on-a-chip technology and AMD providing the graphics architecture, a new report has now arrived via Kotaku.

The website claims that several sources have confirmed that the next Xbox will use, instead of the current DVDs of the 360, the Blu-ray technology that’s currently employed by Sony on its PlayStation 3. The size benefit is apparent, as a Blu-ray disc can fit around 25GB of data, while a dual-layered one can fit twice as much. In contrast, a dual-layered DVD, like the ones employed by the 360, barely copes with around 7-8GB of data. Such a support was already rumored for quite some time, after Microsoft’s HD-DVD format was abandoned by third-party companies in favor of Blu-ray.

The report also mentions a worrying feature of the next Xbox, as the console is set to have a system that won’t allow it to play used games. This would force owners to buy only new games, thus eliminating the second hand gaming market that’s been making lots of money for retailers like GameStop, and stopping profit from coming into the hands of actual game developers or publishers. The website’s source doesn’t know the exact details of such a system, however, so it might not be a part of the final console.

Last but not least, it seems that the new console is also going to have a new version of the current Kinect sensor. This presumed Kinect 2 will have an on-board processor that allows it to better detect the motions of users.

Microsoft released a small statement about this major report, saying that it would continue to focus on its current devices.

"As an innovator we're always thinking about what is next and how we can push the boundaries of technology like we did with Kinect. We believe the key to extending the lifespan of a console is not just about the console hardware, but about the games and entertainment experiences being delivered to consumers. Beyond that we don't comment on rumors or speculation," the Microsoft representative revealed.

Would you approve such features for the inevitable Xbox 720? Leave a comment about it below.

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