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The Xbox 360 is currently selling very well and Microsoft is expecting the trend to continue even after the Kinect for Windows console will be launched. The two products are related because lots of users bought a Xbox 360 in order to pair it to a Kinect console, however, the Redmond-based company is also launch a Kinect for Windows console that will only be supported by Windows-based computers. This means that if you want a Kinect for your Xbox and Windows, you can’t have it because the two versions are not compatible. Anyway Microsoft is looking further and despite the fact that the Xbox 360 was supposed to have a 10-year lifespan, it seems like it a new version will be released by the end of 2013.

This is not the first time we’ve heard such rumors as only last year it was said that the Xbox 720 might become available on the market in late 2012. That’s definitely not the case, but in 2013 we might have a chance of getting a new Xbox.

Inside sources also have some details about the hardware and if they’re as close to the project as they claim, then it means that the GPU which will be present in the new Xbox will be based on the AMD Radeon HD 6670. That will be another kick in the teeth for Nvidia, but the graphics card similar to the AMD Radeon HD 6670 is said to offer 6 times better performance than the old Xbox and 20% better performance than the Nintendo Wii U.

The AMD Radeon HD 6670 is a pretty decent GPU, but many will doubt that Microsoft will manage to improve so much that it will last another 10 years. Another report without any relation to this rumor suggested that the next Xbox will feature a GPU based on AMD’s new technology from the 7000 series.

Anyway the source claims that the Xbox 720′s GPU will provide support for full HD 1080p resolution, DirectX 11, and video output to 2 or more displays. It seems like the new GPU will enter in mass production sometime in late 2012, while the Xbox 720 release date is scheduled for late 2013.

Microsoft has already shipped target boxes to its partners so that the developers can start creating exclusive games, however, the final development kits will be shipped to publishers sometime in August 2012, while the console may be released in October or November 2013.

The source added that the new Xbox will be fully compatible with the Kinect, however, there will be two versions of the console. We’ve also heard this rumor before as another source claimed that Microsoft is working on two versions of the next Xbox. One of them for high-end users, and another one for low-end gamers. The former will be more expensive and will be fully-featured, while the latter will be cheaper and it may come without a HDD.

There are no rumored prices of the next Xbox, but we expect them to be a burden on your pockets considering the fact that a “stock” AMD Radeon HD 6670 GPU costs about $70. We’re currently waiting for more details on this so stay tuned! In the meantime, let us know if you’d buy a new Xbox if it would become available sometime next year.