14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has confirmed that it's now focusing all of its entertainment and TV resources on the Xbox platform after selling the Mediaroom IPTV division to Ericsson earlier today, potentially paving the way for a much more feature-filled Xbox 720 next-generation console.
The Xbox 360 has been turned into a true entertainment platform by Microsoft in recent years and this has led to a resurgence in terms of sales for the console.
As a result, reports are appearing that the upcoming next-generation Xbox 720, codenamed Durango, will focus more on entertainment than on gaming.
Now, Microsoft has taken another step in this direction by confirming that it's sold the Mediaroom IPTV platform to Ericsson and that it's now going to focus on the consumer TV strategy with Xbox.
"With the sale of Mediaroom, Microsoft is dedicating all TV resources to Xbox in a continued mission to make it the premium entertainment service that delivers all the games and entertainment consumers want – whether on a console, phone, PC or tablet," the company's Corporate Vice President of Marketing, Strategy and Business for the Interactive Entertainment Business, Yusuf Mehdi, wrote on the Microsoft blog.
"And with 76 million Xbox 360 consoles around the world with 46 million Xbox LIVE members, it is a mission that gets us out of bed in the morning."
Mehdi also emphasized that the company was working with an array of partners from around the industry as well as with content creators to make the Xbox platform a complete one.
"It is not a mission that we can achieve alone. We want to partner with the industry to deliver the next wave of innovation in games and consumer entertainment. We will partner with content creators, studios, labels, networks, content aggregators, operators and distributors to make this happen. We believe the future of home entertainment is one where TV becomes more simple, tailored and intelligent. We believe the best is yet to come for this industry."
While the company isn't talking about its Xbox 720, recent reports hint at a reveal on May 21 followed by a full-fledged release in November for the next-gen console.