Microsoft, the last major player yet to announce its next generation console, just revealed that the “Xbox Reveal” will take place on Tuesday, May 21 at 1:00 p.m. EST (10:00 a.m. PST). Xbox programming director Larry Hryb, a.k.a. “Major Nelson,” made the announcement this afternoon:
On Tuesday May 21st, we’ll mark the beginning of a new generation of games, TV and entertainment. On that day, we’ll be holding a special press event on the Xbox campus and we invite you to join us via the live global stream that will be available on Xbox.com, Xbox LIVE and broadcast on Spike TV if you are in the US or Canada.
On that day, we’ll share our vision for Xbox, and give you a real taste of the future. Then, 19-days later at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, we’ll continue the conversation and showcase our full lineup of blockbuster games.
Hardware for the next Xbox, codenamed “Durango,” is expected to be similar to that of the already-announced PlayStation 4, although little is known thus far about the software capabilities of the console.
If Microsoft is indeed planning a switch to an x86-based architecture, key features such as backward compatibility with Xbox 360 games may be unavailable. Microsoft may also be planning to launch multiple products under the “Xbox” name, including a dedicated media device in addition to a traditional game console.