Video game consoles are becoming a lot like PCs with every hardware refresh or software update. Soon there will come a time when the difference between video game consoles and personal computers would be non-existent.

However, what if soon is just a year away? What if the Xbox 720 comes with the ability to upgrade parts, something PCs have been capable of since the dawn of time.

According to a recent report, Microsoft is planning to allow the Xbox 720 to have upgradable parts. Such a move would mean the console could improve over time just like a PC, which also means that the generation of consoles after the Xbox 720 may take a very long time to see the light of day.

"[This patent] considers sharing computer resources and could be part of the planned design for an Xbox 720, aka Next Xbox, which details a base architecture like you'd see on PCs. Those for an upgradeable Xbox 720 point out that Microsoft would control the parts for an Xbox 720, so there shouldn't be compatibility problems, but this could also lead to higher costs for these parts," noted Product Reviews.

Xbox-branded consoles have always been more like a PC when it came down to the hardware side of things, which means that it shouldn't be difficult for Microsoft to make it upgradable. If this upgrade should happen, the next Xbox console after the 720 may take a lot longer to come out, which could be a good thing for gamers and developers alike.

Would you be interested in an upgradable console?