Microsoft unveils ‘all in one’ Xbox

Microsoft has unveiled its next generation video games console, Xbox One.

At an event at its US headquarters in Washington, which was streamed around the world, the electronics giant said the new voice and motion- controlled device was an “all in one system” for games, TV, films and music.

Don Mattrick, president of the interactive entertainment business at Microsoft, told the audience and millions of people on the internet: “Today we put you at the centre of a new generation in the living room — where your games look and feel like nothing else, where your TV becomes more intelligent, where all of your entertainment comes alive in one place.

“Team Xbox is on a new mission — design and build an all in one system to light up a new generation of games, TV, and entertainment.”

The sleek black console, with a new Kinect camera sensor and game pad, is the successor to the Xbox 360 which sold a reported 77m consoles around the world.

The new machine, which will be released later this year, sees Microsoft add a blu-ray drive to its console and the use of video calling service Skype.

An upgraded Kinect camera allows the device to better analyse body movements and can even read a user’s heartbeat when exercising, Microsoft said.

Fifteen exclusive games, including eight new franchises, will be available on Xbox One within the first year of its release.

Hollywood director Steven Spielberg appeared on video during the event to announce a live-action television series of the video game franchise Halo.

A first look of the latest instalment in the Call of Duty series — Call of Duty: Ghosts — was also shown at the event and will launch first on Xbox One.

Microsoft’s high-profile preview of the console follows the announcement of rival products from Sony and Nintendo.

Sony held a press conference in February when it revealed details about its upcoming PlayStation 4, while Nintendo launched its next-generation console, the Wii U, last year.