Xbox 720 may have Windows 8 base, touch screen says former MS exec

Xbox 720's interface could follow Windows 8 closely, and may even include some form of touch screen functionality, former Microsoft executive Joachim Kempin has suggested. Are you getting bored of all these rumours yet?

Speaking with IGN, Kempin - who has also blown the lid off Microsoft's attempts to crush Sony at the console game - spoke about the supposed nature of Xbox 720's interface.

"I think the other thing they will try," he predicted, "there’s no doubt about it, is it’s going to be more Windows 8-like; maybe it even gets a touchscreen, who knows? Most of what’s in there today really is Windows, right? I wouldn’t be surprised if the next round of interface comes even closer to Windows 8 than it is today."

Kempin also stressed that when it comes to Xbox consoles, Microsoft makes next to no profit, instead generating revenue from licenses, deals and its PC arm.

Said Kempin, "On the [Xbox hardware] itself there is no profit. So the profit comes from all the other sources; royalties from game developers, maybe the next Halo version, maybe a new Kinect system and what have you.

"So when you look at that…God…it is such a small portion for their company. It would really be better if they would just spin that whole thing out and let other people run it on their own and not get distracted by it. For me that whole environment is a distraction for the company.

"They need to find out how to get this whole PC environment into the 21st century and to have an interesting, modern interface like they have on Windows 8 isn’t enough. It just isn’t. You have to make these devices work together."

What do you make of Kempin's claims?

Meanwhile, Microsoft has responded to claims that Xbox 720 will require an always-on net connection to block piracy and the play of pre-owned titles.