Xbox 720 to play Blu-Ray and introduce Kinect 2, but may not play used games

This week has been filled with Xbox 720 rumors.  From the Oban chip already being in production to the graphics processor being six times more powerful than the current Xbox 360, we've had enough speculation to last us for quite a while.

But we're not done yet, as Kotaku shared with everyone a few more rumored specs for the next-gen Xbox.  According to "games industry sources", Microsoft's next Xbox console will use Blu-Ray discs, finally ridding itself of the dated DVD technology.  In all honesty, this really shouldn't come as a surprise.  With many believing a digital-only content delivery model is just not possible at this time, Blu-Ray is the best alternative.  Sony's current PlayStation 3 supports Blu-Ray, which can contain 25 or 50GB of data compared to the DVD's 9GB space.

That's not all, however.  According to another "reliable industry source", Microsoft will incorporate "some sort of anti-used game system" as part of the Xbox 720.  The source apparently wasn't sure how Microsoft was planning to implement any anti-used game system to the new Xbox, but if true, I can't think of a worse feature.

An anti-used game feature would likely be praised by publishers who are tired of seeing their profits snaked by retailers like GameStop who sell pre-owned games.  It could, and probably will, alienate gamers who rely on the discounted games or hand-me-down games.  It's definitely a risky feature.

And finally, another source "familiar with Microsoft's plans for the new Xbox" said the company plans to ship their new Xbox with a new version of the Kinect sensor.  The Kinect 2 would apparently contain an on-board processor that would enable it to more effectively detect users' motions.

This Kinect 2 rumor does go along with previous rumors about a Kinect 2 that would be so accurate it can read your lips.

Of course, all of this is merely rumor and has not been confirmed, nor will be confirmed, by Microsoft as they have repeatedly said they do not comment on rumors or speculation.

A Microsoft rep did write a follow-up email to Kotaku, writing, "As an innovator we're always thinking about what is next and how we can push the boundaries of technology like we did with Kinect. We believe the key to extending the lifespan of a console is not just about the console hardware, but about the games and entertainment experiences being delivered to consumers. Beyond that we don't comment on rumors or speculation."

[Kotaku]