Microsoft will be talking about "asynchronous play" in their Game Developers Conference speech set to take place this evening in San Francisco.

Chatting at the Casual Games Summit, games chief Chris Early suggested that this evening's news from the firm may be related to cross-platform play, taking in mobile platforms, the and the 360.

"If you like that sort of thing, I would strongly recommend you go to Microsoft's keynote opening GDC, where you'll see a little bit of this announced for the first time," the executive teased "I think I've kept it vague enough not to get into trouble.

"I can't wait for this bridge to happen between hardcore and casual games, especially when they're separated in time. I'd love to stand in line at the bank and play that flow game. Then come home and say, 'Ha! Take that!' I'd love to take that good casual game I played home and have that be successful there as well."

Live Anywhere has been mooted before, Microsoft hinting at the sharing of information and gameplay elements between the three aforementioned platforms. More on this at 6.30pm GMT, we hope.

By Luke Guttridge