Microsoft has re-confirmed that the company's Xbox Live service will be built into the next version of its desktop operating system. There are few details about the integration at this point, but according to a blog post by Microsoft's Director of Programming for Xbox Live, Larry Hryb (also known as Major Nelson), this week at the BUILD 2011 conference they will be showing how easy it is for developers to integrate the service into Windows 8 applications.
"We are very excited about Xbox LIVE coming to Windows 8. Xbox LIVE brings your games, music, movies, and TV shows to your favorite Microsoft and Windows devices. Bringing Xbox LIVE to Windows 8 is part of our vision to bring you all the entertainment you want, shared with the people you care about, made easy," wrote Hryb.
He promised more information about Xbox Live on Windows 8 in the near future and posted the image above as a teaser. Microsoft has already brought Xbox Live integration to Windows Phone. Now, as the company tries to push Windows 8 to desktops, laptops, tablets, and other form factors, this could provide huge exposure for the service.
Earlier this year rumors started to emerge that Windows 8 would even let users play Xbox 360 discs on their PCs, though online gameplay would specifically prohibit cross-platform matchups to keep the playing field leveled. Microsoft hasn't commented on those rumors but we're taking them with a sizeable dose of skepticism for now.