Five things we need to find out at the Xbox reveal
21 May is nearly upon us. We're so close to finding out exactly what Microsoft has up its sleeve to challenge the PlayStation 4 that we can barely contain our excitement. New hardware, new games, shiny lights, dramatic presentations, loud music... Okay perhaps we're not looking forward to everything but we're sure there will be a lot more good than bad.
However for Microsoft to really blow us away we need a little bit more than Usher dancing on stage to promote Dance Central 3. We need specific details about the really important things to get us pre-ordering a new Xbox as soon as possible.
Release date and price tag
Sony did a lot of things right when it revealed the PlayStation 4 back in February. But to this day the company remains coy on releasing any information about a firm release date or how much the system will cost. Microsoft has a chance to take the initiative and confirm to the world the exact date that the next-generation of gaming will begin. A price tag on top of that would be even better, so gamers can start to put their money towards actually buying a new Xbox.
Confirmation of always-online
The next Xbox requiring an always-online internet connection has been a heavy rumour for months now. Some people believe it would be the worst thing in the world, others don't think it would have much impact at all. But until we know Microsoft's plans for definite it's hard to formulate an opinion either way. This issue must be addressed tomorrow, and if the console does have to be always-online we need to know why.
Exclusive games
There will definitely be an exclusive game or two revealed tomorrow. But with E3 just two weeks away, Microsoft will likely spend most of the reveal event talking about the console and specifications. Big game announcements will probably be saved for another time, but tomorrow we still need a glimpse of what the next Xbox can do when it comes to software. A new Halo or Forza title would go down nicely.
Focus on the next Xbox as a gaming console
Microsoft intends to dominate the living room and not just the bedroom, there's no doubt about that. There are plans to make sure the Xbox becomes a family console, something that parents can use to watch the latest TV or kids can use to play special interactive story games. We've seen the evolution of consoles turning into entertainment systems over the years, and that's more than fine with us. However we need Microsoft to guarantee that games are still the most important aspect of next-gen, or we could see a significant number of players making the jump to the PS4.
Kinect 2.0
I'll be honest, I've never been sold by the Kinect as a gaming peripheral. It's not just the Kinect in particular, I'm just not convinced by things like this and the PlayStation Move. I like the idea of them, but they only get used for party games where you have to jump and dance around a lot. Microsoft is supposed to be working hard on making sure Kinect 2.0 is a massive part of the next Xbox experience. Does this mean we'll be able to speak to the next Xbox to turn it on? Hopefully we'll find out tomorrow.
