Microsoft Interactive Entertainment Business CTO Chris Satchell is more keen on talking about how software updates will extend the current Xbox platform, rather than commenting on his vision of the next Microsoft game console.

Asked about his expectations and hopes for the presumed next Xbox, Satchell said in a phone interview, "Our focus is going to be on exploiting the assets we have. For us, platforms are about more than just hardware.

"Really, it's about the software and the client service that connect to that software. That's what you saw us do at E3. The Xbox 360 is the same piece of hardware, but it will be a completely different experience."

At E3 last week, Microsoft introduced a completely revamped Xbox Live interface, which changes the look and adds more functionality to the service, which boasts 12 million subscribers.

With that holiday firmware update to the Xbox 360, Satchell says the console will become a new platform altogether.

"It's completely compatible with software that came out before. But when you can innovate in software like that ... you can make some pretty significant performance gains. You'd have to do a fair amount of hardware change to get the same effect," he said.

So for now, Satchell says that his focus isn't on speculating on new hardware, but squeezing every ounce of potential out of the Xbox 360 through ongoing updates.

"New experiences, new performance, new games. That's what we're focused on at the moment because there's so much mileage still to go."

One major update to Xbox Live will be Community Games feature, a new feature coming this fall where hobbyist developers can share their XNA-developed games via Live, and partake in 70 percent of the revenues their games generate. The other 30 percent goes to Microsoft.

Such an initiative has huge potential from a creative standpoint and as a jumping-off point for would-be professional game makers. But from a financial perspective, what's in it for Microsoft?

"Really, whatever I think we get from this from a financial perspective is going to be overshadowed by the sheer creativity, and having all those games on our system. Our gamers will be able to play new innovative genres, concepts and everything the community is going to build," Satchell stated.

"That's really the true value, more than the percentage of revenue we're taking to help us run the service."