There's much to look forward to in the Xbox front in 2016. One surprising development that had gamers buzzing recently is the reports that Microsoft is developing a new Xbox One model to boost its arsenal next year.

According to Brad Sams in his report on Petri, his sources have revealed the much-anticipated plans for a slimmer version of the Xbox One.

"I have heard from internal sources that the company is considering plans for a lightweight Xbox One that may only be for Windows store games and would compete with the Apple TV, but it's not clear if these plans have been scrapped," Sams wrote in his lengthy post. "A similar device was rumored around the initial Xbox One launch and those plans were put on hold but this device is said to be from a similar vein. If this device does materialize, it will not launch until the second half of the year and have a much lower price-point than the Xbox One."

The lower price point will likely be an attractive feature for gamers, but it's not clear if the trade-off -- limited game offers -- will be worth shelling out for this new console.

Microsoft is not confirming nor denying the recent buzz surrounding their supposed next project. In a succinct statement to Game Spot, a representative said, "We do not comment on rumor or speculation."

According to the same report from Game Spot, this is not the first time word of a slimmer Xbox console has emerged. Just last August there were rumors of a new console by Microsoft for release in October, but it was quickly shut down by head Phil Spencer and never surfaced. The Xbox 360 had two additional variants in the Elite model and the slimmed-down version.

This reported console is only one of the things Xbox fans have to look forward to in 2016. Latin Post previously reported that Microsoft's Windows and Devices Marketing corporate vice president Yusuf Mehdi spoke at the Credit Suisse Technology Conference to talk about the upcoming year.

"We've had probably the best year we've ever had for Xbox," Mehdi spoke about the team's 2015 efforts first, in a report from Game Spot. "And it's on the back of the greatest games lineup in Xbox history. So if you like to game, this is the year to get an Xbox. We have 'Halo 5' launching. We have 'Minecraft' on Xbox. We have 'Gears of War,' 'Tomb Raider'."

He added, "The best lineup; next year will also be the best lineup."

Popular titles set to drop in 2016 include "Quantum Break," "Crackdown 3," "Inside," "Scalebound," "Below," "Gears of War 4," "Killer Instinct Season 3" and "Sea of Thieves."