Microsoft has sent out press invites for an Xbox event on the eve of the E3 gaming conference in Los Angeles on June 10.
The company plans to unveil the next generation Xbox console, rumoured today to be called Fusion, at an event on its Redmond campus on May 21.
However, Microsoft has already intimated that the May 21 event will not tell the whole story, which means there'll be extra interest in whatever it announces on June 10.
The company is expected to unveil the console hardware, specs, peripherals and some software during its May event, whereas the company's E3 showings will focus on the full launch line-up for the next-generation device.
Between the two events we should find out all we need to know about Microsoft's gaming and living room entertainment plans for the next 5 years.
The pre-E3 event will likely showcase a host of advanced games, many of which are likely to make use of the updated Kinect sensor, widely expected to be launched on May 21.
The company is, according to reports, also planning an even bigger push into on-demand and web-based television and video platforms, expected to be as important to Microsoft's plans as the gaming itself.
The last few months of tech news has been dominated by speculation over how Microsoft will answer the challenge laid down by Sony, following its PS4 launch back in February.
Microsoft is widely expected to announce a console that runs on core Windows 8 software and a device powered by AMD Jaguar chips and graphics.
The company is expected to focus on cable TV set-top box integration, while social sharing is also expected to play a major role in Microsoft's presentations over the next month or so.
What would you like to see Microsoft announce at E3? Let us know in the comments section below.
