Skype has become one of Microsoft most important products since it was bought out back in 2011. We've seen Windows Live Messenger being replaced by Skype, and now Xbox Live Voice Chat is gearing up to meet the same fate.

An alleged source from within Microsoft spoke to CVG with regards to Skype coming to Xbox Live. According to the CVG report, Microsoft's intention is to make Skype the main communication tool on Xbox Live; this is by both audio and video via Kinect. This will not take place on the Xbox 360, but Microsoft's next generation console, the Xbox 720.

The source tells CVG:

"You might jump to the conclusion that we'll see asynchronous voice and video messages in next-gen Xbox Live"

As of now, this is just a rumor. However, it is quite a believable one since Microsoft is centering its communication protocol around Skype above all else. Having Skype as the main communication driver on Xbox Live could make it possible for users to voice chat with Skype friends who are not on Xbox Live via the Xbox 720. The question right now is, would there be a file-sharing option, since rumors had it that the Xbox 720 would come packed with a version of Windows 8 as the main OS.

The next gen race is heating up with the numbers of rumors coming in since the beginning of 2013. However, what gamers want to see most are games and more games, and maybe that missing screenshot tool. Still, nothing wouldn't matter much if the Xbox 720 launched at a price deemed too expensive for the average gamer.