Microsoft is set to introduce higher-resolution stereoscopic 3D to the Xbox 360 this year.

A source familiar with the console's development revealed the news to Eurogamer, claiming a full announcement is due at E3.

The insider also reckons the Xbox 360 is "more capable than the PlayStation 3 of doing stereo, assuming you don't have one of the old crappy ones with the composite leads...

"The bottleneck is more on the graphical throughput for rendering out in stereo," (s)he said.

Sony introduced 3D to the PS3 last year. A number of compatible games followed, including Gran Turismo 5 and Killzone 3.

The Xbox already has a number of stereoscopic 3D games, from Crysis 2 to Call of Duty: Black Ops. The upcoming announcement will centre on providing 3D at 720p resolution rather than the half-resolution approach used by these existing titles.

They pack the left- and right-eye images into a single 1280 x 720 frame. The new technique will render the 720p stereoscopic elements into a 1280 x 1470 frame.

Microsoft won't comment on rumours and speculation, but with Sony's 3D games receiving much appraisal, it's about time Microsoft followed suit. ®