Speculation mounts over ‘new’ Xbox Live

It’s been two and a half years since the Xbox 360 and its updated version of Xbox Live arrived – and according to a Microsoft job ad the firm is already working in the service’s successor.

A posting at the Microsoft US careers site says "Want to be involved in the next release of Xbox? Join the server-backed games team, part of the Xbox Live team that’s responsible for creating a completely new way for mainstream audiences to enjoy the Xbox and Live."

The post ads: "We’re building the games, the console interface and logic, and the server support for a totally new Live experience. Both the games and the dashboard experience will be deeply paired with dynamic server support to create a compelling, fresh scenario each time."

Microsoft says it wants "a passionate games producer to help implement our first generation games that will run in this new environment" and who can work with internal and external studios to make games that use the new service.

The Xbox format-holder is set to host a GDC keynote here in San Francisco later this week focusing on Xbox Live – although the subject is most likely to be on improvements for the current version and its interoperability with XNA.