Xbox 720 Will Have Graphics Like Avatar, Windows OS, Reports Say

Two brand new reports about the upcoming Xbox 720 console have appeared over the weekend, with a statement from hardware manufacturer AMD saying that the graphics on the new device will rival those of Avatar, the movie, while a statement from Microsoft seemingly hints that a Windows operating system will be employed with the new device. While current-generation consoles like the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 are here to stay, at least according to Sony or Microsoft, respectively, plenty of companies and reports are hinting that new devices, like the PlayStation 4 or Xbox 720, are being prepared. We've already heard quite a few rumors about them, but two new statements concerning the Xbox 720 have popped up over the weekend and are quite interesting, to say the least. First up, The Examiner cites that AMD, the hardware manufacturer that supplied the graphics components for the current Xbox 360, confessed, through the voice of its ISV relationships director Neal Robinson that, although his company can't say it's working on the new device, its graphics are set to rival the ones seen in the recent Avatar movie. What's more, the new components will be able to render extremely precise artificial intelligence and physics effects, exemplifying it with the pedestrians in open-world games like Grand Theft Auto, each behaving in a different way and reacting individually to the actions of the player. Another report, this time concerning the statements of a Microsoft executive, Andy Lees, says that the Xbox 720 could have some sort of Windows operating system, as the company wants a coherent experience across all platforms, from PCs to tablets or consoles. "We won't have an ecosystem for PCs, and one for phones, and one for tablets - they'll all come together," he explained, via This is my next. While many are immediately drawing the conclusion that Microsoft could release a sort of Windows 8 for the new Xbox, it could just mean that the interface of the console would be similar to the Windows OS on PC or tablets. We already saw such a thing be showcased at the E3 2011 conference, where Microsoft revealed the New Xbox Experience dashboard, which is strikingly similar to the Metro User Interface seen on Windows Phone 7 mobiles or the Windows 8 OS for the PC. These are just rumors for now, however, so, until Microsoft comes forward with a concrete statement about its next Xbox, nothing is certain.

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