A report at The Inquirer claims that Microsoft plans to release three versions of the Xbox successor. One would be a simple Xbox 2 with no hard drive, while a second version, called Xbox Next HD will include a hard drive as the name implies and some additional functionality that takes advantage of the massive storage. Finally, a third model called Xbox Next PC, which is a supped-up Xbox 2 that resembles Sony’s PSX, will more act like a hybrid of an Xbox and a PC.

The Inquirer goes on to claim that the Xbox Next PC is an entry-level PC that runs Windows and all standard PC software. It also includes a CD Burner, wireless keyboard, mouse, game controller and will work best when connected to a HDTV or PC monitor. This will be like an Xbox version of a Media Center PC. We guess that, if the story is true, this special Xbox will load both Xbox and PC games that have been developed using the XNA set of tools.


The report also claims that Xbox Next and Xbox Next HD will ship next fall, while the Xbox Next PC will ship a year later, just in time for the release of Sony’s PlayStation 3. This is also the same timeframe in which the successor of Windows XP, code-named Longhorn, will launch bringing with it the next generation of DirectX and other Windows technologies.

We still find all claims of this report hard to believe, not because of the source, just for the simple fact that three versions of a console (one without a hard drive) would be against what Microsoft has been evangelizing all these years. When taking into consideration that Xbox Next is supposedly using POWER processors, it appears that Microsoft is taking a completely different approach for the next generation. Time will tell, and if we are lucky, we may be less than two months away from knowing the truth.

We’ll have more on the Xbox successor as it develops.