Respawn debut exclusive to Xbox, always-online - rumour

The team that brought us Call of Duty has a big new game in the works, and if today's on dit is true, Microsoft will be the only platform holder to benefit from it.

Kotaku cites two anonymous, unrelated sources for word that Respawn Entertainment's first game will be exclusive to Xbox 360 and whatever Microsoft names its next Xbox console, which is due for reveal on May 21.

The sources said the untitled new game is, predictably, a multiplayer-focused shooter. As you'd expect from a multiplayer title, sources said that it has no offline mode. It boasts two factions, and every game contributes something towards the overall balance between the two. Matches are said to support 16 players as well as AI-controlled enemies.

The futuristic title features at least two types of troop - heavily-armed infantry, and Titans, giant exoskeletons described as quite agile. Only a certain number of these huge mechs can be brought onto each map, and infantry have the equipment needed to take one down if necessary.

You will recall, of course, that Respawn filed a trademark for Titan not long ago. The rumour has some legs to it because there's a wifely-held believe that the core members of Infinity Ward who left the company to found Respawn had grown frustrated with the Modern Warfare series, wanting to make a science fiction game.

Other details from the report have the game running on Source Engine, and not looking quite as good as the Frostbite-built Battlefield 4. Respawn is said to be working on the lead version, which is for the next Xbox, codenamed Durango, while another studio will develop the Xbox 360 port.

Interestingly, Kotaku also threw some juicy Durango rumours into its report, saying that Microsoft is trailing Sony in getting content ready for a holiday 2013 console launch and aggressively seeking exclusives.

We're expecting to see Respawn's game at EA's E3 2013 conference.