Could the next-gen Xbox feature 3D support? While it’s always a possibility given the whirlwind hype “3D” has garnered over the last couple of years, it is this job posting for an “Algorithm Research & Development Engineer” for the Xbox team in Haifa, Israel that is the most telling yet. Duties for Microsoft’s Algorithm Research & Development Engineer will include ““algorithm design and implementation into state of the art 3D imaging systems working in an integrated HW and SW leading team”, working closely with Microsfot’s home base in Redmond, Washington, as well as the usual “ability to work in a fast paced, quickly growing environment”.
While the 3D technology being referenced could simply mean a more advanced Kinect system, we’d have to think Microsoft is at least toying with the idea of 3D gaming. 3D in over 90% of the scenarios we’ve seen it used thus far has pretty much sucked. Seriously. It’s still very much in the “gimmick” stage, exponentially so for mobile devices. But that’s simply because no one has actually implemented 3D really well yet.
If Microsoft can actually make a 3D environment that we really want to invest in, we’ll be more than happy to drop the necessary cash required. But until then we’ll simply have to speculate on vague job postings and other random bits of internet rumors.
