Ubisoft Montreal is developing on early dev kits for the next generation Xbox, according to an Edge source. Dev kits should reach all studios by Christmas, and the console should release by late 2012, the source informed.
Ubisoft isn’t the only studio in possession of the kit, however. Other major developers, including certain EA studios, hold a kit, which are said to be PCs containing off-the-shelf components provided by Microsoft.
When contacted, Ubisoft declined to comment.
One “major Sony-owned studio” has ceased PlayStation 3 development, and has shifted focus to developing for its successor, the source added. The same studio is also assisting development of the graphics technology in the new hardware.
Previous rumors have suggested the next Xbox be smaller and cheaper than Xbox 360, that it will be called Xbox Loop, and launch in 2013. A PlayStation 4 rumor proposed first games for the system are already early in development.