Microsoft's biggest announcement of 2012 has been the company's Windows 8-based tablet/netbook, dubbed Surface. When Microsoft announced Surface, many in the industry - notably several major tablet makers - expressed concern that a tablet from Microsoft could pose problems for other tablet makers who build devices to run on Windows 8 software. Critics emphasized that Microsoft is not a hardware company.

In response to that criticism, a business insider source revealed that Microsoft's Xbox team had a hand in developing the Surface. The Xbox team is seasoned with years of hardware experience, so their inclusion in the Surface project makes sense.

Inclusion of the Xbox team also offers solid proof that Microsoft is very serious about Surface, which may indicate that the project could be more than a one-off to scare hardware manufactures into submission. This may fuel already-circulating rumors that Microsoft may plan to release other Surface devices in 2013 and beyond.