Well I think Microsoft is going to announce their new platform at E3 2012 latest 2013. I think the console will be an upgraded 360 with an upgraded more expensive Kinect. Microsoft had to downgrade Kinect to make the camera affordable I bet the more expensive tech is still at Microsoft headquarters and Microsoft will likely use that tech next generation.
I think Microsoft's target market will be the casual market. WiiU is proving Nintendo is now shifting back to targetting hardcore gamers and less targetting casuals, this leaves Microsoft with a great oppertunity to take market share. I expect Microsoft will continue to focus on Kinect and Kinect 2.0 will be a huge part of Nex-Box.
Power wise I'd expect Nex-Box to be roughly 25%-40% the power of WiiU. Seeing as WiiU will be over 50% the power of PS3 according to developers. So Microsoft will obviously be releasing a more powerful platform. However software will be ported back and fourth across all three platforms. I'd suspect Microsoft's games will blow us away, MS will likely put an emphasis on first party software rather then buying third party timed exclusives.
The Nex-Box will be a super powerful casual driven console. I'd say it will probably be more like a super powered Wii. Selling mostly to casuals and recieving alot of shovel ware and crap. Microsoft is proving right now that other then a few of its core franchises, the whole focus is on Kinect and I expect that to remain the case for Nex-Box!
-JC7
"In God We Trust - In Games We Play " - Joel Reimer
