Ex-DEC VMS code king Dave Cutler, who moved to Microsoft to drive the development of Windows NT and later focus on Azure, is working to evolve the Xbox into a "complete home entertainment device".

Microsoft Fellow Dave Cutler

Cutler's NT code is at the heart of all Windows builds today. He is a Senior Technical Fellow at Microsoft, was responsible for the design of the 64-bit release of Windows and wrote the kernel of Win2k.

The Xbox OS is based on a version of Windows NT - and Cutler has now joined the Xbox team. Microsoft is understood to be evolving the box of tricks from a gaming console to a home entertainment centre – meaning a place to store and play games, music and videos – and the home's network gateway to online entertainment and, possibly, other content. ®

Related stories

• Xbox 720 and PS4 on show at E3 2012 (6 January 2012)

  https://www.theregister.com/2012/01/06/xbox_720_ps4_unveiled_at_e3_2012/

• Xbox 720 to double-up as a DVR (5 January 2012)

  https://www.theregister.com/2012/01/05/xbox_720_to_feature_built_in_dvr_capabilities/

• Windows hits 25 (20 November 2010)

  https://www.theregister.com/2010/11/20/25_years_of_windows/

• MS hands out gongs to star programmers (4 July 2000)

  https://www.theregister.com/2000/07/04/ms_hands_out_gongs/