Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday unveiled its first new Xbox in almost eight years, seeking to position the console at the center of games and home entertainment against a growing roster of competitors that includes Apple and Facebook.

The device is called Xbox One, Don Mattrick, president of Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment division, said Tuesday in Redmond, Wash., where he unveiled the product. The player, set to go on sale later this year, will use voice commands and motion sensing to recognize users and let them switch seamlessly between games, live TV and Skype video calling.

Microsoft, the top seller in U.S. consoles for more than two years, faces fresh competition from Sony Corp.’s PlayStation 4, set for release near year-end, and Nintendo Co.’s Wii-U, introduced last November. It also must fend off Apple, Facebook, Google and Amazon.com, which all offer an array of entertainment services, software and products.

“Team Xbox is on a new mission: design and build an all- in-one system to light up a new generation of games, TV and entertainment,” Mattrick said. “It’s the one system you’re going to use and love every day, the place where your games and entertainment come alive.”

 


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