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Just What is Microsoft’s Secret Team Up To?

Just What is Microsoft’s Secret Team Up To?

There’s shady business going on ‘round here!

After a strong finish to 2014, many have wondered where the next-gen One goes from here. Now is the time to capitalize on its new found momentum moving into the next several months, a task some feel Team Green simply can’t muster. After returning to their original $400 price tag over the weekend, bloggers and journalists alike speculate this was the only reason the Xbox has outsold its PS4 counterpart in the UK and Stateside.

Although, a recent job posting would suggest there is more than planning for the next crazy holiday bundle going on behind the scenes at Microsoft. In what has raised many questions among those within the industry, a new listing unearthed on NeoGAF has left us wondering exactly which ace they currently have tucked away up their sleeves. “A new team has formed in Microsoft’s Xbox division with a specific purpose: to push the envelope of today’s and tomorrow’s technology as we explore new ideas from the ground floor. It begins with veterans from Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and Kinect. But we’re growing as quickly as our imaginations can be translated into code…most of what we work on is top-secret; you may not know what your new project is until you’ve accepted an offer. Not all of our ideas will fly. We will fail, and fail fast, on some projects. We will celebrate those failures because they are vital to making sure the right ideas take off in a big way…If you’re passionate about the potential for Kinect to continue to revolutionize entertainment and are a seasoned software engineer with the skills to prototype and build the future of premium Kinect-powered experiences, we have a growing team of talented people who want to take entertainment into the future.” reads exerts from the official ad.

Even for someone as jaded as myself (who’s seen a lot come and go over the years), I must admit my curiosity is piqued. Another mysterious engineering posting recently shed light on plans for our Avatars, and how Microsoft may look to expand these adorable little characters beyond just Xbox Live. A recent line about “…crossing the threshold to a unified operating system and product experience” points directly to their upcoming release of Windows 10. Beyond that however, I’m wondering what’s in store for the Xbox One itself. Sony’s had quite the onslaught of news regarding where their brand is headed in 2015, so Microsoft can’t afford to sit around and once again look like the second-rate system struggling to play catch up. If I had to guess, I’d say that the big “surprises” come on the VR front. We’ve already seen several Kinect demos which attempt to transform entire living rooms into fully interactive environments. With headsets like the Oculus Rift and Morpheus already in the works, it was also no surprise CheatCC recently got wind of Microsoft’s very own piece of 3D tech supposedly cooking over in R&D.

Just What is Microsoft’s Secret Team Up To?

There is one part of their listing above that doesn’t surprise me in the least. “…we will fail, and fail fast, on some projects. We will celebrate those failures…” is a line which could have easily become their official bumper sticker for year one. Aside from a boom sales period over Christmas break, Microsoft was definitely become the red-headed stepchild of gaming.

Let’s hope the team gets some of these creative juices flowing fast, as they can’t afford another 12 months like we’ve just witnessed.

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