Microsoft plans to destroy Apple TV in 2013 with Xbox TV

Microsoft will release an Xbox TV set-top box in 2013, according to reports. The device will stream media around your home, much like Apple TV, no doubt link with Xbox services – Xbox Music and SmartGlass – and is said to also support gaming capabilities. 

‘Multiple sources familiar with Redmond's plans" have confirmed that a low-cost Xbox TV will be launched next year. It will omit the ability to play top end games in favour of granting access to core entertainment services,’ according to The Verge. 

Said to run on the company’s Windows 8 OS, Xbox TV falls inline with Microsoft’s changed approach to business that’s seen it become increasing active in the consumer electronics space of late. 

Xbox TV will support ‘casual gaming’ – i.e. titles downloaded from the Windows store – but will not tread on the company’s Xbox console business, which is more focused on high-end gaming. 

Microsoft is said to be looking into the possibility of a core Xbox architecture that can be scaled down to run on mobile devices, which raises the possibility of a full Xbox Live experience on Windows Phone handsets. 

Microsoft is scheduled to launch a new Xbox console before the close of 2013. Could Xbox TV launch alongside the refreshed gaming console? 

Both Apple and Google are working to own your living room, with reports that Google is engineering an Apple TV-like service, just without the restrictions.

Microsoft already has a set of market-leading features inside its Xbox console, now all it needs is a cheap way of disseminating them to consumers. 

And an aggressively priced Apple TV-like hub could be just what the doctor ordered. 

More news as we get it…