Microsoft’s E3 conference to show off Xbox integration with Windows 8

It looks like the majority of Microsoft's E3 press conference next week will focus on how the company will merge Xbox entertainment with Windows 8 devices.

"To date, our success with Xbox has been led by a box in the living room," Microsoft chief marketing officer Yusuf Mehdi wrote on the company blog. "Moving forward, Xbox will go beyond the box to reach all new families of devices."

"Just as Xbox has grown to mean more than just games, it also is more than just a console. This year, Xbox becomes the premium entertainment service for Microsoft. Whether on your PC, tablet, TV or phone, Xbox will be a gateway to the best in music and video, your favorite games and instant access to your friends. With the launch of Windows 8, we’ll bring Xbox entertainment to everyone. With Xbox on Windows 8 devices, we rapidly accelerate the reach of Xbox entertainment from more than 60 million people to hundreds of millions of people worldwide."

Mehdi acknowledged Microsoft's understanding that "entertainment has become a multi-screen experience".

"We’ve got ideas for making all the entertainment you love more personal, interactive and social across the devices you love—and on the phenomenal Windows 8 devices that are to come."

"You’ll see the first of that next week at E3 where we will showcase the very best of Xbox," he promised.

While Xbox integration with Windows 8 seems to be their primary focus, Mehdi did say Microsoft will unveil new games along with a "few surprises".  We'll probably see Halo 4 and Fable: The Journey, but aside from that I'm really hoping Microsoft does surprise us – and hopefully not with more Kinect shovelware.

Microsoft's E3 press conference is set to take place on Monday, June 4 at 9:00 a.m. PT.  While we'll be there taking note of everything Microsoft shows off, you can watch the conference live with Spike TV, on Xbox.com, or on Xbox LIVE.

Meanwhile, Microsoft also announced that Xbox 360 console sales have reached 67 million worldwide while generating more than $67 billion at retail.