Microsoft countdown raises expectations for new Xbox at E3

Microsoft’s director of programming for Xbox Live, Larry ‘Major Nelson’ Hryb, has posted an E3 2013 countdown clock on his blog, fuelling rumours that a successor to the Xbox 360 will be revealed by Microsoft at this year’s gaming convention.

In the post, titled ‘Countdown to E3 2013’ and accompanied with the words 'And it’s on...’, Hyrb offers no hints as to an ulterior motive behind posting the countdown clock, so it could feasibly be just that – a countdown clock to E3 2013.

But to be actively generating excitement about E3 2013 so early (still 158 days to go at time of writing) suggests Hyrb knows this year’s show is going to be a big one for Microsoft. And now he’s started the hype, anything less than a new console is surely going to be a disappointment.

Are you hoping this means a next-gen Xbox will be unveiled at E3 2013? Or perhaps you’d like some other megaton Microsoft announcement? Exciting new media partners for Xbox Live? Nike+ Kinect Training 2? More SmartGlass integration? A dedicated controller designed for asynchronous gameplay? Got ideas of your own – tell us in the comments...