Microsoft venturing into cloud gaming?

Microsoft is inviting ex-staff of a prominent cloud gaming company, OnLive, to a networking mixer laid on for them, in a move that could indicate the Xbox manufacturer's future intent - Cloud gaming.

Microsoft is inviting ex-staff of a prominent cloud gaming company, OnLive, to a networking mixer laid on for them, in a move that could indicate the Xbox manufacturer's future intent.

The event puts paid to rumors founded in a supposed leaked overview of the next Xbox, part of which presented OnLive as a potential acquisition target for Microsoft.

Cloud gaming technology enables users to play high-spec games on standard equipment, be those desktop computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and web-enabled TVs.

Fellow cloud gaming firm Gaikai agreed to a $380m buyout from Sony PlayStation in July but, without a lucrative takeover, OnLive's August insolvency and restructure was necessary in order to help it cope with company debts.

The purported Xbox 720 file, discovered in June, also made mention of a pay TV service called Xbox TV, a more accurate Kinect motion sensor, an Xbox 720 around six times as powerful as the 360, and augmented reality glasses.