Information on Xbox 2 has been hard to come by, but recent focus groups suggest that Microsoft may be envisioning plans above and beyond their next console, according to a CNN Money article. The company has recently been studying the potential appeal of a hybrid machine with the potential to play Xbox, Xbox 2, and PC titles.

Both Microsoft and its Xbox division are clients of California-based market research company The B/R/S Group, which has been collecting feedback from consumers regarding a product called "Xbox Next PC." The machine was described as "a videogame console system with a hard drive and a built-in fully functional PC" to focus groups, adding that the unit would require a PC monitor (or HDTV) and would be fully backwards compatible with current Xbox software as well as Xbox 2 games yet to come.

What's more, the "Xbox Next PC" would include a fully functional release of Windows, a CD burner, DVD player with remote control, built-in access to the compnay's Xbox Live service, and a hard drive. Concerning peripherals, Microsoft would potentially package the system with a keyboard, mouse, and a standard Xbox controller. The final price tag was estimated to be about $599.

"We would be remiss if we didn't look at consumer scenarios that take advantage of our strengths," said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of worldwide marketing and publishing for Microsoft's home and entertainment division. "[But] this is one amongst many, many other consumer scenarios that we're looking at."

Microsoft's research on a potential market for the hypothetical machine is in no way a confirmation of such a machine's development, but it is certainly a point of interest and a way for the company to shape its efforts accordingly. The "Xbox Next PC" would allow for cross-platform integration to a degree that current consoles don't offer, but it remains to be determined whether or not these are worth pursuing.

"If you put two and two together, there's no doubt there's a great opportunity to put the two platforms together," said Moore. "Obviously with a company like Microsoft this is something we have to look into and ask about. Is it actionable today? Probably not, but it's something we need to look at."

Copyright © 2004 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in 1UP.