14 DAY TRIAL // After plenty of rumors, reports, and speculation, Microsoft finally confirmed this week that it's going to present the next Xbox at a special event held in its home campus of Redmond, Washington, on May 21.
The company didn't reveal anything else about the event so fans still need to rely on the variety of rumors and reports that keep on appearing on the web.
As a result, Microsoft's conference doesn't need to impress through huge announcements, it just needs to happen and confirm or deny some of the many things we've heard about in recent months.
Of course, the most important issue that needs tackling is the mandatory Internet connection, as after hearing a few rumors that it isn't actually required by the Xbox 720, two separate reports have appeared this past week confirming that, in fact, the console does need to be permanently online.
Another crucial aspect that needs some clarification is the console's actual hardware, so that fans can figure out how it stacks up against Sony's PlayStation 4, which has already been revealed way back in February.
The different accessories of the console, such as the redesigned controller or the new Kinect 2.0 should also be presented to the world, so that Xbox 360 owners can compare them with the current accessories.
Last but not least, Microsoft should also demonstrate the console's operating system and confirm (or deny) whether it's based on Windows 8 and whether it can play the games and applications already available on the PC's Windows 8 App Store.
In the end, Microsoft doesn't really need to impress anyone with its upcoming May 21 Xbox 720 conference. Instead, it needs to clarify the different rumors, make some official demonstrations, and keep fans confident in its next-generation console ahead of E3 2013 in June, when Sony is expected to go on the offensive by finally showing off its PlayStation 4.