According to sources close to Kotaku, the next Xbox console may ship with a Blu-ray optical drive.

In addition, Microsoft may be considering new technology to prevent used games from functioning on the upcoming hardware, which is currently referred to as the Xbox 720 by almost everyone but Microsoft.

It's not immediately obvious as to the legitimacy of these claims, however as the system is likely to be significantly more powerful that existing consoles it seems plausible that a shift to Blu-ray, which can contain more than five times the data of a DVD, may be necessary to keep pace with future gaming innovation.

In slightly less surprising news, the same source has stated that Microsoft will ship an enhanced version of their motion-sensing Kinect hardware – dubbed Kinect 2 – with the Xbox 720.

A representative from Microsoft has stated: "As an innovator we're always thinking about what is next and how we can push the boundaries of technology like we did with Kinect. We believe the key to extending the lifespan of a console is not just about the console hardware, but about the games and entertainment experiences being delivered to consumers.

"Beyond that we don't comment on rumours or speculation."