Microsoft unveils Xbox One with Spielberg, Activision tie-up
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Buy SPH photosREDMOND, Washington (REUTERS) - Microsoft Corp gave the world a first look at its new Xbox One on Tuesday, announcing that its first gaming console in eight years will come with exclusive video and software content, including a Halo series produced by Steven Spielberg.
The Xbox One, which will be available later this year at a price to be announced, will also be the first platform to release the next installment in Activision Blizzard Inc's blockbuster shooter franchise, Call Of Duty.
Microsoft hopes its third-generation console will attract video game fans who are increasingly sampling games on mobile devices, while also becoming a hub for living-room entertainment.
The console took four years to develop and will launch worldwide "later this year", games unit chief Don Mattrick told reporters at an event at the software company's campus near Seattle, without providing details on timing or pricing.
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Xbox One is shown on display during a press event unveiling Microsoft's new Xbox in Redmond, Washington, on May 21, 2013. Microsoft Corp gave the world a first look at its new Xbox One on Tuesday, announcing that its first gaming console in eight years will come with exclusive video and software content, including a Halo series produced by Steven Spielberg. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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The B button on the Xbox One controller is shown during a press event unveiling Microsoft's new Xbox in Redmond, Washington, on May 21, 2013. Microsoft Corp gave the world a first look at its new Xbox One on Tuesday, announcing that its first gaming console in eight years will come with exclusive video and software content, including a Halo series produced by Steven Spielberg. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Director Steven Spielberg is shown on screen discussing his partnership on Halo the television Series during the Xbox One launch unveiling Microsoft's new Xbox in Redmond, Washington, on May 21, 2013. Microsoft Corp gave the world a first look at its new Xbox One on Tuesday, announcing that its first gaming console in eight years will come with exclusive video and software content, including a Halo series produced by Steven Spielberg. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Mr Eric Hirshberg, president and chief executive of Activision Publishing, discusses Call Of Duty Ghosts designed for Xbox One during a press event unveiling Microsoft's new Xbox in Redmond, Washington, on May 21, 2013. Microsoft Corp gave the world a first look at its new Xbox One on Tuesday, announcing that its first gaming console in eight years will come with exclusive video and software content, including a Halo series produced by Steven Spielberg. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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The Xbox Kinect motion sensing device for the Xbox One is shown during a press event unveiling Microsoft's new Xbox in Redmond, Washington, on May 21, 2013. Microsoft Corp gave the world a first look at its new Xbox One on Tuesday, announcing that its first gaming console in eight years will come with exclusive video and software content, including a Halo series produced by Steven Spielberg. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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This rear view of Microsoft's next-generation Xbox One entertainment and gaming console, on display at an event in Redmond, Washington, on May 21, 2013. The Xbox One, a next-generation entertainment console that promises to be the one system households will need for games, television, movies and other entertainment, will go on sale later this year. -- PHOTO: AP
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A controller for Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox One entertainment and gaming console system is on display after its unveiling on May 21, 2013, at an event in Redmond, Washington. The Xbox One, a next-generation entertainment console that promises to be the one system households will need for games, television, movies and other entertainment, will go on sale later this year. -- PHOTO: AP
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Writers and bloggers are lit by the glow of computer screens as they cover the unveiling of Microsoft's next-generation Xbox One entertainment and gaming console system on May 21, 2013, in Redmond, Washington. Microsoft Corp gave the world a first look at its new Xbox One on Tuesday, announcing that its first gaming console in eight years will come with exclusive video and software content, including a Halo series produced by Steven Spielberg. -- PHOTO: AP
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The new controller for Microsoft's next-generation Xbox One entertainment and gaming console system is shown front and center with older-generation controllers behind it on May 21, 2013, in Redmond, Washington. Microsoft Corp gave the world a first look at its new Xbox One on Tuesday, announcing that its first gaming console in eight years will come with exclusive video and software content, including a Halo series produced by Steven Spielberg. -- PHOTO: AP
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Mr Kareem Choudhry (left), development manager for Microsoft's Kinect motion-sensing device for the Xbox, demonstrates the level of detail in the camera of the new Kinect for the next-generation Xbox One entertainment and gaming console system to a visiting journalist (right) during a demonstration on May 21, 2013, in Redmond, Washington. -- PHOTO: AP
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A group of visiting journalists try out the improved motion-detecting capabilities of the new Kinect controller for Microsoft's next-generation Xbox One entertainment and gaming console system on May 21, 2013, in Redmond, Washington. The new Kinect, which will come standard with the Xbox One can also see users in total darkness and has a wider field of view than the previous Kinect device in use with the Xbox 360. -- PHOTO: AP
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Mr Kareem Choudhry (left), development manager for Microsoft's Kinect motion-sensing device for the Xbox, demonstrates how the new Kinect for the next-generation Xbox One entertainment and gaming console system reads facial features and other visual indications to approximate the heart rate of a user during a demonstration on May 21, 2013, in Redmond, Washington. -- PHOTO: AP
Xbox One is shown on display during a press event unveiling Microsoft's new Xbox in Redmond, Washington, on May 21, 2013. Microsoft Corp gave the world a first look at its new Xbox One on Tuesday, announcing that its first gaming console in eight years will come with exclusive video and software content, including a Halo series produced by Steven Spielberg. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
The B button on the Xbox One controller is shown during a press event unveiling Microsoft's new Xbox in Redmond, Washington, on May 21, 2013. Microsoft Corp gave the world a first look at its new Xbox One on Tuesday, announcing that its first gaming console in eight years will come with exclusive video and software content, including a Halo series produced by Steven Spielberg. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Director Steven Spielberg is shown on screen discussing his partnership on Halo the television Series during the Xbox One launch unveiling Microsoft's new Xbox in Redmond, Washington, on May 21, 2013. Microsoft Corp gave the world a first look at its new Xbox One on Tuesday, announcing that its first gaming console in eight years will come with exclusive video and software content, including a Halo series produced by Steven Spielberg. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Mr Eric Hirshberg, president and chief executive of Activision Publishing, discusses Call Of Duty Ghosts designed for Xbox One during a press event unveiling Microsoft's new Xbox in Redmond, Washington, on May 21, 2013. Microsoft Corp gave the world a first look at its new Xbox One on Tuesday, announcing that its first gaming console in eight years will come with exclusive video and software content, including a Halo series produced by Steven Spielberg. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
The Xbox Kinect motion sensing device for the Xbox One is shown during a press event unveiling Microsoft's new Xbox in Redmond, Washington, on May 21, 2013. Microsoft Corp gave the world a first look at its new Xbox One on Tuesday, announcing that its first gaming console in eight years will come with exclusive video and software content, including a Halo series produced by Steven Spielberg. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
This rear view of Microsoft's next-generation Xbox One entertainment and gaming console, on display at an event in Redmond, Washington, on May 21, 2013. The Xbox One, a next-generation entertainment console that promises to be the one system households will need for games, television, movies and other entertainment, will go on sale later this year. -- PHOTO: AP
A controller for Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox One entertainment and gaming console system is on display after its unveiling on May 21, 2013, at an event in Redmond, Washington. The Xbox One, a next-generation entertainment console that promises to be the one system households will need for games, television, movies and other entertainment, will go on sale later this year. -- PHOTO: AP
Writers and bloggers are lit by the glow of computer screens as they cover the unveiling of Microsoft's next-generation Xbox One entertainment and gaming console system on May 21, 2013, in Redmond, Washington. Microsoft Corp gave the world a first look at its new Xbox One on Tuesday, announcing that its first gaming console in eight years will come with exclusive video and software content, including a Halo series produced by Steven Spielberg. -- PHOTO: AP
The new controller for Microsoft's next-generation Xbox One entertainment and gaming console system is shown front and center with older-generation controllers behind it on May 21, 2013, in Redmond, Washington. Microsoft Corp gave the world a first look at its new Xbox One on Tuesday, announcing that its first gaming console in eight years will come with exclusive video and software content, including a Halo series produced by Steven Spielberg. -- PHOTO: AP
Mr Kareem Choudhry (left), development manager for Microsoft's Kinect motion-sensing device for the Xbox, demonstrates the level of detail in the camera of the new Kinect for the next-generation Xbox One entertainment and gaming console system to a visiting journalist (right) during a demonstration on May 21, 2013, in Redmond, Washington. -- PHOTO: AP
A group of visiting journalists try out the improved motion-detecting capabilities of the new Kinect controller for Microsoft's next-generation Xbox One entertainment and gaming console system on May 21, 2013, in Redmond, Washington. The new Kinect, which will come standard with the Xbox One can also see users in total darkness and has a wider field of view than the previous Kinect device in use with the Xbox 360. -- PHOTO: AP
Mr Kareem Choudhry (left), development manager for Microsoft's Kinect motion-sensing device for the Xbox, demonstrates how the new Kinect for the next-generation Xbox One entertainment and gaming console system reads facial features and other visual indications to approximate the heart rate of a user during a demonstration on May 21, 2013, in Redmond, Washington. -- PHOTO: AP
