Next Generation Xbox to Support Blu-ray

The next generation Xbox will allow consumers to play Blu-ray disc, play single-player games offline, and watch live TV. At least this is what our friends at Ars Technica appear to have been able to confirm after obtaining a copy of an internal Microsoft memo. The memo was apparently sent to all full-time employees working on the next Xbox.

Here's the text from the memo confirming that the Xbox will support Blu-ray playback which was published by Ars Technica:

"Durango [the codename for the next Xbox] is designed to deliver the future of entertainment while engineered to be tolerant of today's Internet. There are a number of scenarios that our users expect to work without an Internet connection, and those should 'just work' regardless of their current connection status. Those include, but are not limited to: playing a Blu-ray disc, watching live TV, and yes playing a single player game."

Microsoft will officially introduce the next Xbox during an event at the company's headquarters in Redmond, Wash., on May 21.