1060°

Xbox 720 Devkit Specs Detailed, Includes 16-Core Processor, AMD Radeon HD 7000-series GPU

SilleGamer.com

''Discrete sources have confirmed to Xbox World Magazine that Xbox 720 devkits were shipped to various developers in March, and have detailed an impressive set of specs for the next generation console.''

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sillegamer.com
mrshooter2k124394d ago

Powerhouse console confirmed if true

JonahNL4394d ago

Don't overestimate the next generation, though. Various companies have mentioned that the graphical "jump" to the next generation won't be as big as the one we had in 2005.

I hope the next generation will focus on proper multitasking. With 16 cores that's more than possible. Each core can handle a specific task.

PLASTICA-MAN4394d ago

That is cool to read. So even the multiplatform games will look phenomenal, let alone exclusive games.

limewax4394d ago

That's some serious fanboy glasses there Carlito, You really think MS will release a console weaker than the current gen.....So why would they even release one? There would be no point.

And by the way the Wii-U below PS3? Dream on, I can link you to some pages providing info showing the Wii-U is expected to be at around 6x the power of the current gen, reliable sources. But that would break you heart

Mr_cheese4394d ago

@limewax that's not going to be true. Devs have been reporting that the wiiU will offer the same graphics as a ps3 but won't be capable as much.

Ocelot5254394d ago (Edited 4394d ago )

what are you talking about ? Firsly : even single core cpu's can handle multitasking (trough timesharing for example, this isn't the 80's you know)

secondly, the current gen can already do proper realtime multitasking, on the PS3 you can spread 14 threads (6 vector processors, and each one can handle 2 threads at once + the PPU) and on the 360 6 ( 3 cores, 2 threads / core).

Dante1124394d ago (Edited 4394d ago )

LOL, 16 cores? I wonder how much this will retail for if true? $600-800 console confirmed.

Also from the article

"Discrete sources at GDC also confirmed to the publication that developers expect Sony’s Playstation 4 to be more powerful than the next Xbox, and that various studios are aiming to unveil their next generation software at E3 2012 in June"

Calling BS on this article. If the PS4 is gonna be powerful than this (16 is already kinda unlikey) what will it have, 32 cores and 4 GPUs lol?

MAJ0R4394d ago

SIXTEEN CORE PROCESSORS for $600-800? Try over $2,000. The i7 990x is a 6 core proccessor and it retails at around $1,000. I just refuse to believe this.

http://www.amazon.com/Intel...

Dasteru4394d ago

@MAJOR:

That doesn't mean anything. AMD already has an 8 core CPU for $250

http://www.newegg.com/Produ...

Also cores are only 1 small aspect of determining how powerful a CPU is. Simply having 16 cores doesn't necessarily make it more powerful than another CPU with half as many cores nor does it automatically make it more or even as expensive.

Also remember that this isn't being released til the end of 2013 based on current rumors and with the evolution of computing hardware every 4-5 months. chances are the CPU used in Durango will only cost MS about $50 per unit in bulk, If that.

NewMonday4394d ago

this could explain something:

"..Kinect 2 could chew up four whole cores tracking multiple players right down to their fingertips, so it’ll need a lot of power.”

is their a possibility the NexTBox could rune a closed version of W8? that would be one curve ball

MaxXAttaxX4394d ago (Edited 4394d ago )

"Discrete sources at GDC also confirmed to the publication that developers expect Sony’s Playstation 4 to be more powerful than the next Xbox, and that various studios are aiming to unveil their next generation software at E3 2012 in June, regardless of whether “Microsoft and Sony are ready or not.”"
__

So we will be seeing next-gen games and tech demos this E3 already?
I know it's a rumour. But I also hope to see new info on next gen systems.

superrey194394d ago (Edited 4394d ago )

16 core processor? I don't think so... not even $1000 pc cpu's have more than 8.

@dasteru

4 core Intel i7's smoke AMD's 8 core cpus.

IaMs124394d ago

i could see this coming true. Just because its 16 cores doesnt make it the best thing, it just means it can multitask very well. Its engineering, maybe this redesigned console with 16 cores may not be as fast as a 4 core CPU but it might be more efficient at handling things.

arjman4394d ago

Carlito, you're fanboy-vision shames your namesake, Carlito Caribbean Cool, you're not cool (spits apple in face).

Dasteru4394d ago

@superrey19: For general processing yes they do and that is exactly my point, More cores does not necessarily mean more powerful or more expensive.

As for gaming, it has been proven time after time that most Intel CPU's only give a slightly better performance in games, Most games simply aren't coded to fully utilize all that extra processing power. I remember when the i7 980x first came out there were some bench tests that showed it getting on average about 2-3fps better than the Phenom II 965.

meetajhu4394d ago

You got they way wrong on how multi core works. Every thread of job is evenly distributed among all the CPUs.

OccludedGamer4394d ago

is this really what were expecting? check out the price on it, how is that possible?

http://www-03.ibm.com/syste...

fr0sty4394d ago

Dante, you don't have to have more cores to be more powerful. Case in point, current 6 core PC chips are a good bit more powerful than the 8 core cell that launched in 2006 was. The reason being, Cell's cores are not full fledged processor cores, but SPUs (essentially DSP's). So, there is nothing saying that the 16 cores in this rumored chip will be full fledged cores, or that each of those cores will be all that powerful. You can't just take a number of cores and extrapolate overall power from it.

esemce4394d ago

Yeah better Ai, physics and 1080/60fps.

BattleAxe4394d ago

PS4 is definitely being designed by aliens.

decrypt4394d ago

Its called getting console gamers hyped. This has been done before only to under deliver significantly.

PS3 was supposed to play games at 1080p and 120 fps, see how accurate those statements were.

You could have a 32 core CPU, ask any PC gamer it wont make difference in games. What really makes a difference is the GPU.

All of us PC gamers know AMD makes crappy CPUs, yes they might have 8 cores however they get out performed by dual cpus from intel when it comes to games. Now if they are saying 7000series GPU, it can mean anything. It could be a 75XX - 76XX GPU, which tbh is pretty gimped.

Console gamers should really be asking for more transparency, they always tend to get fooled when it comes to hardware and specs.

DeadlyFire4393d ago

With rumors we must take this with a grain of salt. As for the 16-cores. Do they mean 16 threads or 16 cores? If 16 threads then its a 4 core - 16 threads its Power7 CPU if 16 cores then its definitely Power8 CPU. As for thread count for 16 core Power8. I expect at least 4 SMT threads per core which equates to 64 threads. Unless this means Power7 8 core times 2 for Xbox 3.

sikbeta4393d ago

16 Cores? It's a beast! Welcome home XBX3 :D

zag4393d ago

The CPU would be utter hogwash.

The 360 uses a 3 core intel CPU.

The Cell chip made by IBM is a PowerPC chip by design.

Currently intel don't make any 16 thread or even 16 core CPUs, this even goes for the server/business side.

They do make 8 core CPUs that have 16 threads but these CPUs are around $2500USD and not sold to households.

Having 2 threads per CPU isn't the same as 2 cores, and probably slows the core down as i has to deal with 2 items at the same time.

I've seen benchmarks of twin optron 8 core CPUs in 1 system with tri-crossfire setup with the fastest GPU cards at the time.

and the CPUs weren't the bottle neck it became the motherboard itself as it simply couldn't push enough data around, the CPUs never got to 100% and the GPUs never did as well.

Even when overclocked it it didn't make any difference.

When you have a multi-thread program run on win7 perm then that program is able to use all cores without any problems as it's windows that handles the threads not the program.

alas I highly doubt this xbox will have 16 threads or cores.

nveenio4393d ago

I don't believe this. Unless, of course, they're using a processor like the CELL. Which would be ironic if it's true that the PS4 will be x64 based. Can anyone say "role reversal"?

DARK WITNESS4393d ago

I love it when a new gen is about to start and all these stories start to crop up and all these great conversations about specs and all that.

I an't got a clue about all the tech talk and specs, but it's great reading and it's me all excited!! I just can't wait for the end result, but at the same time I am not looking forward to somethings like the amount of milking and crap.

+ Show (22) more repliesLast reply 4393d ago
GamingPerson4394d ago (Edited 4394d ago )

fake..

@ZidaneNL
ok! but more kinect is bad..

JonahNL4394d ago (Edited 4394d ago )

CPU's for consoles are custom made and are by far not as expensive as standard, retail CPU's that we can purchase.

NCAzrael4393d ago

@ZidaneNL

There is absolutely nothing different on the manufacturing side of CPUs for consoles that makes them any more cost efficient than CPUs for PCs. If anything, the manufacturing for a console CPU is less efficient (note: I did not say more expensive, there is a difference) thanks to the fact that they don't have a mass market to ship to outside of the console manufacturer. All that "custom made" means is that they don't follow any current manufacturing specs, which means that they have to dedicate an entire fabrication line to a new architecture and get nothing out of it in return.

dark-hollow4394d ago

1- make an article about a non existent console.
2-make the "leaked" specs sounds very strong or weak to attract hits.
3-say its from a "trusted source"
4-????
5-PROFIT!!! LITERALLY!!

ProjectVulcan4394d ago (Edited 4394d ago )

Yup. a POWERPC chip with 16 cores isn't really believable either for this console- plus everyone talking about threads then they are a very distinct thing from hardware 'cores' which was clearly said in the article.

The largest and fastest Power7 is an 8 core. It does have 4 way SMT.

Developers don't want to spread their code over 16 cores and 4 times as many threads. It is fairly unrealistic to imagine a console with even a 16 core version of a POWERPC this year or even next year.

Even a custom part with that many cores does not fit into IBM's roadmap.

More cores has never always = better too. Focusing on the numbers of each core or thread versus the actual capability of such a core and CPU as a whole is a mistake.

Tr10wn4394d ago

^ yup i remember the Pentium 4 era where no ones believe in dual cores, thats impossible they said, lets lol now, Microsoft had the money to do it if they want and if they make a deal with AMD then is possible, still a rumor IMO.

ProjectVulcan4394d ago (Edited 4394d ago )

When did no one believe in dual cores in the pentium 4 era? Who said it was impossible? I would love to see you show us where you didn't just make that up Tr1own.

There had been embedded duals for a very long time BEFORE Pentium 4, and in fact it was a PowerPC, POWER4 as the first non embedded dual core, over a decade ago now- just as Pentium 4 launched.

Microsoft's money is not relevant in the case of this article, it is about IBM. Because as i pointed out, there are no single die 16 core POWERPC7 designs around to be in a devkit right now (as claimed saying the 16 core CPU, singular) and no 16 core POWERPC designs expected for at least a year....

Clearly then the idea the machine will have a 16 core POWERPC chip is rather suspect IMO. If the architecture was not specified as POWERPC then it is not impossible or unbelievable as there are other chips around. But as it is an architecture that doesn't exist right now but is apparently in devkits already then colour me suspicious.

adorie4394d ago (Edited 4394d ago )

lol 16 cores!? http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Doubt it's true. Sounds like that is specified for devkit only and not what they will be putting out in the retail sector.

stragomccloud4394d ago

I'm thinking someone mixed up cores with threads. 16 simultaneous threads is very impressive though, none the less.

SantistaUSA4393d ago

It is more likely to be 8 core cpu and 16 threads, that's more believable anyways.

NeloAnjelo4394d ago (Edited 4394d ago )

Yes, but will there be games to play? We don't need 16 core for Kinect games. Give us some core games Microsoft.

hazardman4394d ago

Earlier rumours this yr. said the kinect 2 would have its own processors, would the extra core have anything to do with it? I'm not a tech wiz, just trying to gain some knowledge...

oNIXo4394d ago

Kinect games are for core gamers. Haven't you seen the Xbox line-up for the next year?

stragomccloud4394d ago

I remember when the first Kinect was supposed to have it's own processor...

ruiner44824394d ago

Wasn't everyone complaining about having 7 different threads to code for the ps3??

kaveti66164394d ago

PS3's devkit didn't automatically spread the work among the 6 SPUs.

360's devkit had a compiler that did.

Malice-Flare4394d ago

confirmed is the antithesis of rumor. besides, i beginning to think MS and Sony are letting 3rd parties run their mouth because they know something's going to leak eventually. might as well FUD it...

tee_bag2424394d ago

Well I hope its true. I'd like to see the next gen console/s have some impressive specs. They need to be to last a 5-8 year cycle. I don't mind paying abit more for quality future proof hardware. What I don't want is a console with mid range consumer PC specs.

Blackdeath_6634393d ago

if you read the whole article at the bottom it says,
"Discrete sources at GDC also confirmed to the publication that developers expect Sony’s Playstation 4 to be more powerful than the next Xbox"
we will have to wait and see which console is the powerhouse but you completely disregarded the possibility of ps4 tech being even stronger.

The_Con-Sept4393d ago

16 cores? HAHAHAHA!
Radeon 7000 comparable? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! (ffb)Nvidia again?..(/ffb)
Blu-RAY! (There isn't enough space for that many "HAHA"'s.)

This is a total HOAX!

Seriously with an educated guess add that up in your mind how much per unit that will cost.
(ffb)And remember Microsoft needs to make a profit off each unit sold like the 360. And be POWERFULL.(/ffb)

16 cores? They mean the Wire Speed processor? This is new technology. No price set yet. Best estimate?

3,000 a piece. (Remember... HIGH END PROCESSOR...)

But lets say its a 16 core processor with each core at only around 1.1 GHz per CPU... Then 900 a piece. (And only comparable to an Intel i3 dual core @ 3.8 GHz each.)

NVidia is probably the GPU choice this go around since it is "comparable to the Radeon 7000 series." Since this GPU doesn't have a name and is new technology... Best estimate?

600 a Piece to start.

Blu-Ray....... (Where to begin?)
Would Microsoft actually consider paying royalties to a competitor? REALLY? Ok lets just say they really go with this choice.

75 a piece.

So if it is a super duper upper decker makes you feel like your eyes just got salt and peppered....

4 grand per unit.

3 thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine US dollars!

Seriously.... this rumor needs to be killed before someone gets embarrassed....

adorie4393d ago

don't forget, the cost of hardware is substantially lower for these gaming companies since they are usually contracted to buy in bulk.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 4393d ago
yourfather4394d ago

now that's stupid
maybe the medias can say nextbox have AI next time
rumors lol

360GamerFG4394d ago

If you're going to troll, at least do it in English.

torchic4394d ago

what exactly was he saying? o.O

Nyxus4394d ago

Sounds a little too good to be true... but I hope it is!

DA_SHREDDER4394d ago

Now when it comes to a machine that only does third parties, the saying, might as well just get a pc comes to mind, especially since even their "exclusives" come to pc too. So you xbox fans that already can't wait for next gen, guess what, next gen has been here for years already.

jaymart2k4394d ago

And only very few games look leaps beyound the consoles.

When 90% of the games are leaps ahead then will talk.

Heck, most of the developers still haven't maxed out the graphics this gen.

Arnon4394d ago (Edited 4394d ago )

@DA_SHREDDER

You are clearly butthurt.. and..

@jaymart2k

I'm going to assume you don't even own a gaming PC. If you did, you would know that 90% of all games released on the PC DO in fact look better than their console counterparts. Hurray for no proprietary hardware!

"most of the developers haven't maxed out the graphics this gen."

Yes they have. In fact, they did that a few years ago. All they've been doing at this point is tweaking various parts of their engines within the bottleneck.

SPAM-FRITTER-1234393d ago

@90% of games not been miles ahead

if devs built a game for a £3,000 PC, PC games would be pushing out CG graphics. but would you throw all your money into making a game for people who use a £3,000 PC...i wouldnt.

make a game and design it to work on an avarage PC and you sell millions. make a game for a £3,000 rig and sell thousands.

a lot of PC games look console quality because devs can not go around making games that cost millions to only sell to the nvidia 680,i7 990 gamers.

also with PC devs seeing how well console games sell they have to make equal looking games to stay in business.

dark-hollow4394d ago

Who knows what exclusives the new Xbox will have?

Remember that the 360 had three good years of exclusives. Hopefully they continue making exclusives after that this time.

Gamer19824394d ago

like 5 websites have different specs now this is getting silly. Some say 8000 series like the orbis is rumoured to have (these are going for 700 though make more believable?). But 16 cores really??? I doubt it for one serious reason. PRICE! MS will want this to be market ready at launch which means they will want it to be cheaper than sonys console from day one like the 360 always was. That was there edge with 360 and will be with there next console. 16 cores will definitely push it over the edge.

Show all comments (198)
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?"

purple1014d 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 ☝️

Zeref3d 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.

DarXyde3d 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.

PhillyDonJawn3d ago (Edited 3d 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.

Einhander19723d 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.

MrBaskerville3d 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.

shinoff21833d 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.

Profchaos3d 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 3d ago
isarai4d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref3d 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.

MrNinosan3d ago

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

mkis0072d ago (Edited 2d ago )

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

Einhander19724d 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.

4d ago Replies(3)
Einhander19723d ago

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

3d ago
3d ago
Zeref3d 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.

DarXyde3d 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.

Einhander19723d 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.

Einhander19723d 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.

BehindTheRows3d ago (Edited 3d 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.

Zeref3d ago (Edited 3d 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.

Chevalier3d 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.

Tacoboto3d 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.

shinoff21833d ago

Yay steam

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

Tacoboto2d 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 2d ago
Hofstaderman3d 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?

crazyCoconuts3d 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.

Xeofate3d ago (Edited 3d 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.

crazyCoconuts2d 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

FinalFantasyFanatic2d 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)
370°

Could Xbox Soon Become The Next Dreamcast?

Microsoft's future in the video game space is murky right now, so let's break it all down.

Read Full Story >>
thegamer.com
ApocalypseShadow16d ago (Edited 16d ago )

Not anytime soon. But they're on that path.

One thing not mentioned in the article is Microsoft's money bags. If Sega had Microsoft's money, they would have still been around as a hardware manufacturer. Xbox as a platform only survives because of the money bags. They can continue making consoles for the core and port to PC.

The multiplatform strategy is only the result of arrogance and misguided leadership that blew up in their face. They thought gamers would jump on Xbox in droves if they knew that many of their favorite games would be only on Xbox. But that's not happening at all. Sales didn't increase. They decreased. Why? Because the dumb asses thought giving away these expensively made games in a cheap service would also turn the tide.

Gamers on other platforms are willing to buy quality. They don't need to be handed nearly free games in a service that aren't even finished and sometimes average in their development. Gamers buy Nintendo games. They buy Sony games. Microsoft groomed their base to not buy games. Even the quality ones. It has always been their plan to go digital. But most gamers still like single player gaming. Still like physical releases.

Microsoft's problem has always been that they don't produce high quality games at the same output as Nintendo and Sony. Actually, they should be producing quite a lot more because they're worth over 2 TRILLION. How they don't have more is ridiculous and no excuse. Buying publishers to take away from competition only backfired. Because it still takes millions of dollars to continue to make those games from the publishers they snatched. Their only choice was to crawl back to their competitors to help sustain those developers because Nintendo and Sony platforms were the ones buying games.

Am I sorry for Microsoft? Hell no! They deserved last place for putting in the least effort. They deserved the fallout for buying up the industry and didn't make a single blip on the radar against their competitors where they now need those same gamers they took away games from to support them. Part of it may have been to cash in on their competition. But the result is the slow death of their platform. They may go 3rd party. They may keep making hardware. I don't give a shit about them to worry about it. I only give a shit about the destructive nature of their industry moves that only negatively affect gamers. They could sell and drop out of the industry and I wouldn't blink. Probably laugh. But not blink. They deserve whatever comes to them. At least Sega put in the effort when it came to games. They just had poor leadership. Microsoft has poor leadership and barely makes memorable games. That's a killer combination. And not in a good way.

Cacabunga16d ago

That would be an insult to Dreamcast.. it had a crazy line up of legendary critically acclaimed games.

Crows9015d ago

I was thinking the same. Dreamcast had incredible games in such a short amount of time. It was truly exceptional.

darthv7215d ago

...and yet all those great games were not enough to sway people from the looming release of the PS2 at the time. Sony just has that kind of brand loyalty.

Cacabunga15d ago

Darth

I do not agree.. Sony had even better games thanks to an unprecedented 3rd party support..
DC had amazing lineup but 90% were arcade games..

88315d ago

@darth:
And Sony showed off "The Emotion Engine" and their real time demos that made everyone think they would miss out on REAL next gen 128bit magic if they jumped in before PS2s polygon pushing monster (and early lack of anti-aliasing with a healthy heap of shimmer + DVD playback) stepped up. PS2 was a fantastic system though with amazing games.

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blacktiger15d ago

That's not true. Just because Microsoft has the money doesn't mean Microsoft can allow xbox to bleed entire Microsoft money. It doesn't work like they. Also SEC will be watching and investor won't allow it. Lot of reasons why Microsoft can not continue even if they wanted to. SEC regulations is expensive.

fr0sty15d ago (Edited 15d ago )

Exactly this... Microsoft is a publicly traded company, mostly owned by their shareholders (Approximately 59.24% of the company's stock is owned by Institutional Investors, 7.73% is owned by Insiders and 33.03% is owned by Public Companies and Individual Investors.). Their shareholders call the shots on the business decisions, and their shareholders want one thing and one thing only, for their stock price to go up. Losses do not make stock prices go up... so if the division continually posts losses on hardware, but shows profits on software and services (which has been the case with Xbox its entire lifespan, for over 20 years now), the shareholders are going to grow impatient and demand they stop making hardware and focus on the only thing that has ever made them money, software and services.

When Microsoft bought Blizzard and Activision for almost 100 billion, I knew that was the nail in the coffin for Xbox as a console... as the shareholders were going to expect a quick return on that investment, and when it didn't materialize, they were going to be out for blood... out to force Xbox to sell those games on as many consoles as possible, "and while you're at it, sell those first party exclusives that aren't selling well on other consoles as well... hell, just stop making consoles and sell games."

If there is another Xbox console generation, it will definitely be the last, but I doubt there even will be one at this point. I think the Xbox division planning on it just in case, but I don't think the project has been greenlit from Microsoft itself. The rumors that they have not yet even secured the chips needed from the chip fabrication facilities ties into this.

shinoff218315d ago

While I usually agree with you . Alot of what was said can just also be asked before any of that.

How long will the shareholders wait? It doesn't appear long at all

Babadook715d ago

I think I get your point. Like just because MS has money does not mean they are content to throw it away on a dying ecosystem. Xbox has to be profitable or “what’s the point?”

ifinitygamer15d ago

Money bags, yes, but are we ignoring that Xbox actually makes a profit on games and GamePass? Hardware is often a loss leader, and they're probably making profit 4 years into the life cycle, but games and services revenue have been very profitable while other parts of Microsoft's business is struggling. Say what you will about the quality of those games, of course, but this is kind of a reverse Dreamcast situation, where the console was dragging down the company and put it at risk of shuttering entirely. Killing that console saved the business and allowed it to continue to make games on multiple platforms. In this case, the service is very profitable, as are the games, and they're also double-dipping into Multiplatform to extend this further, while their hardware is just sort of what they believe to be the best for gamers and their own titles (whether that is the case or not...)

fr0sty15d ago (Edited 15d ago )

The issue is, they aren't selling enough hardware to make their exclusives profitable, and now that they've bought half the gaming publisher/dev industry, they have no choice but to go third party to make a profit... and that is making their shareholders take a real close look at their hardware division under the microscope... why keep making the hardware if the software is all that is making them money, and they continually, generation after generation come in dead last with hardware sales?

Look at a game like Spiderman 2... if it had been an Xbox exclusive, with the amount it cost to develop, it would have been a huge failure... simply not enough consoles out there to sell it on. They would have been lucky to break even.

ifinitygamer15d ago

@fr0sty agreed completely, which is why they're hedging by releasing other games to multiplatform, plus they have PC to make up for the difference in a lot of ways, which is why their games are not complete money pits. It brings up the question of whether or not those exclusives would drive sales of consoles, though. Let's say Spiderman 2 was an Xbox exclusive, it would certainly have pushed console sales, though who's to say how much is anyone's guess.

fr0sty15d ago

That's why you can't rely on just one exclusive, Sony has always delivered on a wide range of solid exclusives, even this generation (even if they haven't been strong on the first party exclusives, they've made up for it with third party). They don't rely on just one "system seller", they have a portfolio of them.

15d ago
JBlaze22615d ago

ApocalypseShadow To be honest Sony has more of a chance to go 3rd party because like you said Microsoft has money, Sony does not. Sony does not have games, Only games they have come from 3rd party. Sony has been losing money for years and you. Saying Microsoft has been putting the least effort just proves you have no idea what's been going on. All Sony has done is repeat and recycle, never innovating or doing something new. All Sony has is brand loyalty nothing else and it shows.

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LG_Fox_Brazil16d ago

Not sure about that. It's been two decades and I still think about Power Stone, Shenmue, Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Seaman and others, but I'm not sure I'll remember Xbox Series X/S games in a few years from now... Maybe I'll remember about the franchises that the Xbox brand spawned, but I don't believe that the Xbox Series lives up to the late Dreamcast or even to the Xbox name itself. I do have great memories about the 360 with Blue Dragon, Gears 2 and Lost Odyssey though

isarai16d ago

Nah, sega actually makes good games

Becuzisaid16d ago

No, Dreamcast was ahead of it's time and most still have very fond memories of it that had one. It also had some good games on it even in it's short lifespan. Xbox has none of these qualities.

Profchaos15d ago

I remember it coming out at the time in a really bad place they hit the market before the PS2 but it was during this transitional time when Sony was promoting the power of the PS2 and so many of the Dreamcast games were awesome but often third parties simply ported the PS1 version increased resolution and performance but rarely fully utilise the capabilities of the console.

I think in the end bad marketing done it in and like the GameCube so many people are fond of it now but at the time it was looked at in the lense of the day and it didn't stack up.

Personally I miss Sega in hardware they took risks that many companies won't

Becuzisaid15d ago

I never owned it, and got the PS2 right when it launched. But there were certain games it had that I was always jealous of that I didn't have access to - Sonic adventure, crazy taxi, power Stone, code Veronica, shenmue, skies of Arcadia. I always thought it was a really cool machine though. I've never heard a bad thing about it though from those that had it.

FinalFantasyFanatic15d ago

I only ever saw one Dreamcast, and that was one my friend owned, pity I never got to play it, I wonder what games he had for it?

It would be nice if some of those games got ported to modern systems.

Profchaos15d ago

Oh man sonic adventure on the Dreamcast made me so jealous as a huge sonic fan on the mega drive who also moved to PlayStation 2 I never got the chance to play it back in the day either. The Dreamcast in Australia where I am was always relegated to the smallest corner of EB Games it was kind of a strong first indicator that things were not going well at the time.

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Microsoft Rewards app on Xbox and weekly streaks to be killed off soon

Microsoft has announced the Microsoft Rewards app on Xbox will be discontinued in April and has confirmed that weekly streaks will also be coming to an end.

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