For a while now, rumors that Microsoft plans to include the next Kinect in the Xbox 720 have rattled around gaming blogs, but no concrete details have emerged. While we are still waiting on an official announcement, which will likely land next summer at E3 2013, a recent Microsoft job listing indicates that the company is actively hiring for its next-generation Kinect team (via GameSpot).
The ad reads, " If you want a comfortable, standard-role job at Microsoft with no ambiguity or risk, please don't apply. But if you're passionate about the potential for Kinect to continue to revolutionize entertainment and are a seasoned software engineer with the skills to prototype and build the future of premium Kinect-powered experiences, we have a growing team of talented people who want to take entertainment into the future."
Microsoft notes that prospective employees won't know which project they will be assigned to until they've accepted a job offer, given the sensitive nature of the information. "Not all of our ideas will fly. We will fail, and fail fast, on some projects. We will celebrate those failures because they are vital to making sure the right ideas take off in a big way."
Confidential sources "familiar with [Microsoft's] plans" tell Bloomberg that the next-generation Xbox will launch in Fall 2013 in time to capitalize on Thanksgiving and Christmas sales.
Other reports at the Verge suggest that the new system will ship with two models. The premium version is said to contain all of the features one expects from a next-generation consoles, including the ability to run cutting edge games, act as a media hub, and support a thriving online ecosystem. The 'mainstream' version will compete with Apple TV and contain barebones ability to play downloadable games, a compromise for its discounted price.