A clutch of online job adverts suggest that Microsoft is already working on the successor to Xbox 360.

The positions found on LinkedIn (by Beyond3D) include graphics architect and performance architect, both senior roles on the Xbox hardware team. Successful candidates will work on "defining and delivering next generation console architectures from conception through implementation".

Microsoft is also looking for a hardware verification engineer to "play a key role in the development and verification of the Xbox and future platforms" and be "responsible for the design verification and qualification of the Xbox console at the component, motherboard, and system levels". Whilst the graphics architect "should have a broad background in 3D graphics rendering architectures and algorithms".It’s still unclear whether Microsoft is hiring people to work on its next generation console or just enhancing the capabilities of the 360. Either way, it’s a case of watch this space.