Sources point to the next generation of consoles coming around 2013...

First things first, no, it probably isn't going to be called the "Xbox 720", and no, we don't really know what it is going to be called. But we have to call it something, and it might as well be "Xbox 720" because then at least everyone knows what we mean. That, and there was a sneaky advertisement for it in the trailer for Real Steel.

Anyway, whatever you are going to call it, it looks like we're getting it in 2013. Develop just announced that:

"Multiple sources across the industry, from processor chip manufacturers to middleware firms, have told [us] they expect the console to be fully unveiled at E3 2013, months before its release."

So that seems pretty certain then. There is the slight possibility of it being pushed back to 2014, but with the unpredictability of release dates it's hard to say whether this is likely or not.

Develop also notes that Lionhead are working on a new Fable, currently titled "Fable Next", which is to be released on the next Xbox. There is also the new Unreal engine currently being developed by Epic, scheduled for a 2014 release, but now tipped to be coming earlier, to meet the release of the new console. There are also rumours that EA have working prototypes of the new Xbox "on desks", but this seems a little soon, so there are some doubts about the legitimacy of this claim. It is also 'strongly denied' by EA themselves.

It's not just Microsoft that are looking to the next generation already, though, as you know, Nintendo announced the Wii-U (and suffered a large fall in stock because of it). But now Sony have announced that PS4 "projects are beginning", but with few further details emerging, we may have a little longer to wait for Sony's next offering.

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