190°

How the Xbox 720 could become MicroSoft’s most successful console

The next Xbox is largely rumored to be something akin to a cable box (They have already started this with U-verse and Fios ), If this were true that could explain the “always online” rumor as cable boxes generally are always connected to their networks. While the concept of a console requiring online seems like a suicidal move,it might actually be MicroSofts best.

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takuchat.com
Cocozero4034d ago

Considering they are the only one of the Big 3 to always gain marketshare each gen next gen shouldn't be any different

Zuperman4034d ago

these articles are so stupid.. Jesus Christ.

Ritsujun4034d ago Show
SHORYUKEN4034d ago

@cocozero

Keep on dreaming boy.

The next xbox will be a Big Fail!

People don't want a console have to be online to be able to play some games.

ThatCanadianGuy5144034d ago

To be fair, it's not like the bar was set very high with the original xbox lol.

4034d ago
Saigon4034d ago

This is not the best article, but I get the point the author is trying to make. I've always said that this move MS is trying to make is a great strategy but really Risky and people might actually fall into it. Now I say its risky because we all know that kinect would be the center piece. If you look at the current technology that is out you can understand why I say this. Smart TVs are taking over at a high rate. Don't be surprised if within the next couple of years we will not need cable boxes to watch TV. Everything will be applied from your TV via a plug in. Just to authenticate that last statement, many people do not know that some companies, such as Verizon, uses the internet to update the TV guide. When I found that tidbit out a few years back i was shocked. My point again, great strategy just risky.

imsocool12344034d ago (Edited 4034d ago )

Cocozero: Keep on sucking Micro$ucks little d lol.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4034d ago
clintos594034d ago

As I stated before if the rumours are true. I do not want microsoft to succeed only because if all this works out for microsoft, everyone else will want a piece of that and they will follow in that stradegy to make more money. Microsoft clearly is trying to change the gaming industry with their stupid stradegy and it will only lead to the gaming industry dying out. Notice the lack of creativity & innovation coming from microsoft. They cleary arent looking to better the gaming industry but trying to find a way to squeeze as much money out of the gaming industry without having to spend much money. They are actually ruining it for all gamers. Remember my words if this plays out the way microsoft plans it too. The gaming industry will die in 10 to 15 years from now.

grassyknoll4034d ago

Agreed. I got the Xbox 360 as a 2nd console, if half the rumours are true, I'm not touching it. Everything around it seems to be made around business decisions rather than user experience (If true!).

RuleofOne343 4034d ago

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like. ~ Lao Tzu

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. ~ Walt Disney

Life must be understood backwards; but... it must be lived forward. ~ Soren Kierkegaard

Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward; they may be beaten, but they may start a winning game. ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

clintos594033d ago (Edited 4033d ago )

witwicky343

That would be valid if microsoft used that for gaming but they clearly aint doing that. If they are, where are the new innovative ip's u speak of for opening new doors or where is the risk for taking on a new creative games that u speak of? It's easy to talk the talk but it doesn't mean "Nothing" if the company cant walk the talk that u preach with risks. It's all about making money for microsoft and not spending much to do it. If they really were the ones taking risks it would be them bringing in all the new ip's that no other company would risk giving a chance. My proof are the small indie devs sony is taking a risk on moving forward while microsoft pushes these creative, innovative devs aside in favor of a cable box.

KingKelloggTheWH4034d ago

This really seems like the direction they are going with the NextBox...
I'll stick with the PS4 and Wii-U for now.

greenpowerz4034d ago (Edited 4034d ago )

"720 could be using a new AMD Radeon HD 2x7790 GPU 3.58TFlop(2x1.79TFlop)

BTW to the replies...

Don't even try to pull the April Fool's card damage control excuse.
The rumor PS3 fans are thinking of is the 1.23 dual GPU rumor not the new Radeon HD 7790 rumor. The rumors of dual GPUs are over a year old. A troll posted one of the dual gpu rumors on neogaf on April Fool's trying to discredit the rumor in a damage control attempt.

Posted on 26 Mar 2013
http://www.expertreviews.co...

April 1st(fool's)Debunked excuse wont work. Possible Mega! Ton! incoming

See how dual gpu rumors are much older than April first 2013

published: 2012-04-02 17:58:24

http://www.cinemablend.com/...

It's clear MSFT has been wanting to do this from the start regardless of dev kit build or the different hardware changes overtime. :)"

FROM ME

"LMAO the leaked docs have alway said they were convenience features most likely optional like the primative version's of some of those features on Xbox 360.

1.
The docs said the 720 has full auto updating vs the 360's features, with the 360 needing to be on and enabled by the owner for auto updates/downlaods, before the 360 engages the function(only doing auto when enabled with a powered on console and when the console is then off).

Media and fanboys twisted what was originally said/leaked.

2.
Also some sort of DEV KIT security protocol is being mixed into this cunfusing people even more. On the dev side of things the DEV KITs might need to be connected to MSFT servers for the console to work or play games in developement. MSFT can watch who is using the dev kit making sure only the games assigned are being accessed and used where they are suppose to be or the console doesn't work nor the games.

Both these things I said above will need an always connected and always on console to work. LOL

The new standby mode talked about in the docs is in a low power state for Kinect and remote use with MSFT smartglass devices etc.

New always signed in mode needs the console always connected for auto features and remote access(DVR).

All this is hardly proof of retail consoles not working period! without a connected from the web. It just means like the 360 or anyother consoles out now, some of the offerings won't work.

The new features are hands free for owners most likely if they so choose.

You enable the feature on the 720 and when updates are available the console will probably show what its doing for a sec in a window pop up. When off and the owners are not home all that will be done, with a possible notation of what was done when you get home assuming there isn't a smartglass function that leaves messages in various places,.

I have the same tech/options in my OPPO BDP 103 It's always connected and always on ;) It doesn't have to be booted up and other media/network features work in standby mode and not in off mode. It's always connected ;)
#10"

Another from me

4034d ago
StreetsofRage4034d ago

An Oppo BDP 103? Nice! A man who definitely knows his high end products.

Genuine-User4034d ago (Edited 4034d ago )

The number of APUs won't matter once you realise that your beloved consoles relies on multiplatform games.

JeffGUNZ4034d ago

Please Genuine-User, show me the link with the confirmed launch games for the next xbox?

Clarence4034d ago

That's not going to happen.
http://www.destructoid.com/...
The 360 burned down a house.

Imagin what type of damage 720 will do. It will be like a nuclear power plant melt down.
M$ techs aren't creative enough to put 2 gpu in the 720.
They would need a blueprint of some other company that has already done it.

M$ is software company with a record for stealing ideas and building crappy hardware.

rainslacker4034d ago (Edited 4034d ago )

What would be the point in producing a dual GPU system when they could just go with a higher end GPU which could produce acceptable, if not better results, all for a much cheaper price, and less strain on the actual hardware in a very enclosed space.

More cores is the way processors are going, not just doubling down on the hardware itself. Basically dual GPU does not equal double the performance.

I will concede that there may be auxiliary processors that may provide functions to the GPU, or some other system function, not unlike how Sony has a dedicated streaming CODEC chip. Realistically though, MS is going to want to make money off their system, and they're going to want to be able to keep the costs as low as possible.

Also, people aren't upset that the possibility of Always on is there, just with the fact that it may be mandatory, and that the system may not function for games if not connected. Valid complaints which you didn't address. No one has a problem with optional always-on, and many probably even use their system like that now. Otherwise, I agree with your roundabout point...we should wait for confirmation before completely dismissing MS.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4034d ago
creized14034d ago

If the rumors are true about the next xbox and people still go out to buy it then you must be the most retard3d person on earth, no offence.
Even if you can afford all 3 consoles, keep away from Xbox (Thats if ofcourse the rumors are true)

What clintos59 said above is correct no doubt...
If you want to see gaming be destroyed by some selfish company that all they care about is money then whatever...

Show all comments (27)
210°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

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theverge.com
darthv7217h ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle4h ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic18811h ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio59m ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Cacabunga3h ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

shinoff21832h ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga1h ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

purple1016h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos5h ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

XBManiac5h ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad4h ago(Edited 4h ago)

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple1014h ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos4h ago(Edited 3h ago)

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic2h ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

Show all comments (21)
300°

Microsoft Seemingly Closes Bethesda France

As part of its plans to cut 1,900 jobs, Microsoft has reportedly shut down operations at Bethesda France, letting go roughly 15 people

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insider-gaming.com
Hereandthere1d 13h ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN1d 11h ago

If they are let go, they can be whatever they want. They ARE 3rd party now... 🤦

Barlos1d 8h ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

GamerRN1d 1h ago

They can form a company if they want, they are just as jobless as if "Microsoft had left them as 3rd party".

peppeaccardo1d 3h ago

"MIcrosoft leaves Bethesda do what they know how to do best" ... close! Oh the irony ....
(Citation from a week old article)

ChasterMies23h ago

I think Microsoft and other game publishers are letting people go because they think ai will replace them. Doesn’t matter how much profit they make. They were always going to be let go.

PassNextquestion1d 13h ago (Edited 1d 13h ago )

Bethesda France was made up of roughly 15 people... they couldn't of being doing much

Bethesda France mainly did publishing and marketing within the region

blacktiger1d 11h ago

that's a shame for you to say that, i'm sure Elite loves hearing what you just said.

Mr Logic21h ago

What a stupid thing to say. The elites give 0 fucks what we say on an obscure website in the comments section.

Crows9020h ago

You can always reach out and give them jobs at your company man. Don't wait

Profchaos1d 13h ago (Edited 1d 13h ago )

Bethesda France focused on publishing and marketing in the region. And 15 people lost their jobs as part of the closure.

I wonder if this is part of Microsoft's strategy to abandoned physical media or possibly gamepass advertising makes their roles redundant you don't need to market a game as hard when the majority of players get the game as part of a sub which already promoted upcoming games

Tacoboto1d 12h ago

It's France too, there's a high likelihood only 1-2 people on the team even had an Xbox.

Profchaos1d 12h ago

Possibly guven all the leaks we know the Xbox brand is really struggling in the region.

Yi-Long1d 9h ago

Well, if your consoles and games are barely found in any stores any more, of course you're gonna struggle finding consumers ...

XiNatsuDragnel1d 11h ago

Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo

Profchaos1d 10h ago (Edited 1d 10h ago )

I think it would have been better for all parties really especially gamers

TheColbertinator1d 11h ago

The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.

Show all comments (21)
280°

Xbox's Preservation Step Sets A Much-Needed Example, Especially For Nintendo

Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"

purple10112d ago

Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”

Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever

Nice one ☝️

Zeref12d ago

It's better than what Nintendo and Playstation is doing. It might not be perfect but at least they are TRYING. Unlike the others.

DarXyde12d ago

Trying? Take off the blinders for a moment, mate.

1. A failure to preserve games is just that: a failure to preserve games. Don't try to sugarcoat it: NO ONE is doing it properly. Better than awful is nothing to write home about.

2. At the time of this comment, isn't it the case that you need an internet connection to play Xbox games even if you buy physical discs that are hardly in circulation anymore? I don't have a Series X and I can't verify, but I think that is correct. I'm fairly certain you can at least play PS5 games at version 1.0 (not much of a win really when many games require day one patches). I think Microsoft's all digital, licensing approach is by far more aggressive than anyone else's. They really try to push you to game pass where you lose your entire library by umm.... Skipping a month of payments.

I don't think anyone is doing it right whatsoever. Don't get me started on Nintendo, who goes after anyone looking to preserve their games better than they ever would with extreme litigation.

Don't be a simp for any of these companies. Get it together.

PhillyDonJawn12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

@DarX never speak on Xbox again. You lost all credibility with your internet connection comment. Smh you have 0 clue and misinformed yet speaking on something you don't no squat about.

Einhander197211d ago

What has Sony done exactly? You guys keep deflecting to Sony but I am not actually seeing any results, and ai am certain nothing that you can come up with even comes close to what Microsoft has done and what they have tried and failed to do, like tie all your disks to your account on xbone.

Microsoft removed their whole indie section when they moved to the xbone because they were going to only allow games on the service that came from a publisher, id@xbox started after xbone launched and it only exists because Sony embraced indie and Microsoft was forced to cancel their plans and reverse course.

And every single game that was part of games for windows live including disk games (I have gta 4 on disk that won't work) so hundreds of games that use that DRM no longer work unless the company themselves patched it out which of course very few did.

MrBaskerville11d ago

Not trying. Tried. they killed of the backcomp program years ago. They set something up again, but sounds like it's more of an attempt to save the current library on whatever they are planning next. With luck they save everything and more, but let's see. I could see them killing off parts of the OG xbox and 360 libraries. Can't imagine that they would allow us to play Forza 5-7 in the future.

With that said, I do like what they've done and really wish they could have done more.

shinoff218311d ago

Zeref

So killing off physical media is trying what exactly. Ms don't really give a fk if you think they do your kidding yourself.

Profchaos11d ago

They are not trying this team is established for forward compatability the team is. It interested in preserving Xbox or 360 games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 11d ago
isarai12d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref12d ago

Just because it's digital only doesn't mean you can't preserve it. Just put it on an external and you have the exact same functionality of what a disc does.

MrNinosan12d ago

Guess you're trolling, but if you actually think that's how it works, I'd recommend buying some braincells.

mkis00711d ago (Edited 11d ago )

Volitile vs nonvolitile data. A disc will not corrupt either. A drive can be corrupted.

Einhander197212d ago

This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.

No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.

Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.

12d ago Replies(3)
Einhander197212d ago

Anyone remember xblig which Microsoft removed their whole 360 indie section removing hundreds of games from people?

12d ago
12d ago
Zeref12d ago

Do you know you can put your games on an external and preserve them that way? There are no benefits to discs. ZERO. Idk why some of you are still obsessed with them.

DarXyde12d ago

Because games like Persona 5 exist. It's STILL V1.00. On Playstation, that's a win because 1.00 is installed on the disc—no need to download anything.

If a game does not require any updates, it's all on the disc.

Extremely low bar in the modern era, of course. It's not much of a win by any stretch.

But for now, physical media does have a purpose, at least on Playstation.

Einhander197212d ago

That is factually not how game licensing works, try plugging your hard drive into someone else xbox, It's not going to work, and it won't work if the licensing servers ever go down.

Einhander197212d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

I have around a dozen games, some on Steam itself that will not work because Microsoft shut off the licensing servers.

BehindTheRows11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

I do. I STILL have games (Gears of War being the big one) I cannot access because Games for Windows LIVE is total garbage and no one has held Microsoft accountable.

Zeref11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership.

Chevalier11d ago

"You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership."

Damn how many times do people got to explain your idiocy to you? You can take a copy of Persona 5 like someone used as an example and play that game on ANY console WITHOUT logging in which means I can lend the game to a friend without internet and they can play my game. Can you lend your hard drive to anyone without logging in for them to play? NOPE. That is a huge difference and if you think otherwise then sorry you're an idiot.

Tacoboto11d ago

"No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft."

Ubisoft is literally erasing games people bought from their libraries... My PS1-3 discs are useless on modern hardware. Nintendo's re-published and resold almost their entire Wii U library, and the eShop is completely dead with no BC mechanism in the Switch software. Microsoft publishes everything they make today day one on Steam and Xbox/Windows. Sony only brings to PC the titles they think you might want some years later and Nintendo won't even design a functional long-lasting joystick.

You're absolutely trolling and not serious if you think Microsoft today is the worst offender.

shinoff218311d ago

Yay steam

Not everyone fks with computers though. The disc is still the best way as a console player. Period.

Tacoboto11d ago

How do Sony and Nintendo feel about these discs from 2001-2013?

Don't be stupid, you know Xbox is the best at this today.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 11d ago
Hofstaderman12d ago

Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?

crazyCoconuts11d ago

Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.

Xeofate11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

That is not their plan, their plan is to transfer users accounts to the cloud.

Phil Spencer himself said as much a few months back, plans could have changed but I think people are reading way too much into one statement where Phil said he would allow Epic on xbox because he wants to be able to sell xbox games directly on other platforms. Aka, instead of selling Sea of Thives through PSN he wants to have an xbox store to sell his games on PlayStation without giving PlayStation any money.

Again, it's extremely unlikely that Phil plans to put PC on xbox and licensing would prevent them from just giving out other publishers games purchased on xbox copies of thier games on PC, Microsoft does not own their games.

crazyCoconuts11d ago

The thing that doesn't align with the cloud strategy is the giving up on exclusives. You'd still need strong exclusives for cloud streaming - it's still a "platform" , just with a lower upfront hardware investment. I feel like they've learned what PS learned with PSNow long ago. We're not ready to stream games and it's only gonna lose them money to try at this point

FinalFantasyFanatic11d ago

I would love that, I'd buy up some of the Xbox games if they could run on PC, like the Rare Replay, Lost Odyssey and Dead or Alive Ultimate, probably a pipe dream though.

Show all comments (43)