Rumor: New Xbox Reveal Coming At E3 2012

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We aren’t even a week out from this year’s E3 and already rumors about the next one are floating around the internet: according to VideoGamer, the next Xbox – which we may as well just call the Xbox 720 – stands a good chance at being revealed within the next twelve months, and likely at E3 2012.

This rumor comes from a “high-ranking industry source at Crytek,” who also says that they’re developing Timesplitters 4 for the console and using DirectX 11 heavily in next-generation development. There’s no word on the console’s specs, obviously, and it seems like any new details are miles off, so for now we’re just going to have to dream about what Crysis 3 will look like on next-generation consoles.

This indicates that Microsoft is looking to launch well ahead of the next PlayStation, and perhaps on the coattails of Wii U – though if Microsoft learned anything from the success of the original Wii, it’s that head start, even having the market to yourself for an entire year, doesn’t necessary mean anything.

This goes against what Microsoft has said about their commitment to the Xbox 360, saying time after time that they’re committed to a ten year life span with the console. Sony has a 10 year life cycle in mind for the PS3 as well, but Nintendo’s reveal of the Wii U may have shaken those plans up for both companies.

And as thrilling as a new console generation may be, by far the most exciting news to come out of all of this is Timesplitters 4. Fans have been waiting a full six years for another Timesplitters game, with the last release being 2005′s Timesplitters: Future Perfect (a great game in many regards, but it fell just a wee bit short of the perfection that was Timesplitters 2). If there’s any hint of truth of these rumors and Timesplitters 4 is actually in development for Microsoft’s next console, it’s possible that Timesplitters 4 could be a launch title for Xbox 720, and oh what a launch title it would be.

As always, though, take these rumors with a big grain of salt. It’s likely we won’t get any developments on this for quite sometime, considering that E3 2012 is a year away, but if any more details pop up, we’ll be sure to let you know.