300°

Xbox 720 Upgradeable Design The Solution To PS4

product-reviews.net: No matter what you think about the Wii U you have to admire the way Nintendo are trying to innovate with their so-called next-generation console, so when it comes to the Xbox 720 and PS4 we hope that something truly innovative is delivered when we finally see the release date for these expected powerhouses. One way this can be done with the Xbox 720 is by making it upgradeable, and it wouldn’t be the first time we’ve heard this, although as we move closer to a launch it seems more possible considering the speed at which PC hardware is advancing and also looking back at Microsoft patents.

Read Full Story >>
product-reviews.net
shutUpAndTakeMyMoney4174d ago (Edited 4174d ago )

pc gaming for everyone!

Actually this would be better than pc imo if they offered say 3 tires of upgrades kits over time. Maybe every 3 1/2 years they would offer upgrade kits over the course of 11 years. That would give you more power and they could still do console optimization.

also this is not gonna happen.

Welshy4174d ago (Edited 4174d ago )

This idea totally defeats the purpose of console gaming in my opinion.

When i bought my 360 and PS3, i bought in the knowledge that from that day on. every single game released would perform as intended and equally with everyone else for the next 4-6 years.

If consoles start to to hardware upgrades, they would be nothing more than restricted PC's.

With a PC, you can upgrade anything, anytime you want, why would i shell out £300-400 on something knowing that not all games in the future will run fully? Or having to wait for Sony or Microsoft to tell me when and what i can upgrade.

If consoles become upgradable, they will have completely lost their purpose and identity not to mention a whole lot of sales (excluding uninformed buyers).

nukeitall4174d ago

There is a big difference between this approach and PC. The main one is the PC path is riddled with nasty incompatibilities and pretty poor overall user experience.

There is no reason this upgradeable console can't have games that are still backwards compatible with the Xbox you bought and at the same time compatible with the upgraded part.

That means the developers only have to test and optimize the game with two versions of the hardware as opposed to gazillion with PC.

Retain all the benefits of console, yet make it current with the times. Sounds like a winner for me.

hellvaguy4174d ago

"This idea totally defeats the purpose of console gaming in my opinion."

I kinda see your point, but if done right, I do like the idea behind it. I mean nothing can stay the same forever. Have to evolve or the competition will do it for you and take over.

DeadlyFire4173d ago

Don't worry this doesn't mean anything about upgrades.

This is the specsheet layout of the Xbox 720. Nothing about upgrades at all.

Communication fabric = ARM CPU? Sounds so similar to this? http://www.anandtech.com/sh...

Other CPU/GPUs. 1 CPU/GPU each for Kinect 2/projector room, X360 compatibility, and X720 game design.

Yes? or No?

SilentNegotiator4173d ago (Edited 4173d ago )

"There is a big difference between this approach and PC. The main one is the PC path is riddled with nasty incompatibilities and pretty poor overall user experience"

Better, but it would STILL cause fissures in compatibility and the community.

Upgradeable consoles absolutely defeat the purpose of consoles.

ShabbaRanks4173d ago

Remember the N64 .... :)

I don't think its a bad Idea, but anyways RAM is so cheap now that next gen will most likely have 4gbs minimum. If not MS and Sony are retarded... The only thing missing will be the SSD that I will definitely get at the same time xP

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4173d ago
Oh_Yeah4174d ago (Edited 4174d ago )

The name xbox infinite would actually make sense if it's upgradeable.. Hopefully it is. Every 4 years or so just release an upgrade kit instead of a whole new console...same case, different parts..it would save everyone including the companies a bunch of money.

Jazz41084174d ago

Not to seem uneducated but please tell me what Tires has to do with this? I must be missing something Shutup?

JamieL4173d ago

I think he meant tiers.

Mike134nl4173d ago

Either way in some sense a new xbox720 or whatever will be upgradable to some extent with hard-drives and maybe some new face plates I assume .

Leaving a slot open for possible future ram upgrades like the n64 is possible. In Microsoft case I would guess any upgrade kits to the system would only influence the media and apps functions of the box and not the specifications needed to play games.

An additional processor might be included in kinect(2),but this is not a upgrade to the box.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4173d ago
chukamachine4174d ago

PS3/360 already have upgradeable parts.

HD,LOL.

As for anything else, just no.

Already got a pc, don't need another one.

All console games must run the same.

PtRoLLFacE4174d ago

it sounds good but is going to have a big impact on the design, in a consoles every component is glued to the motherboard reducing the size of the machine, the only way i see it, is having gpu, cpu and ram cramped to a different board with is own cooling system, and then make attachable to the motherboard just like pc graphic cards, if everything is separate like normal pc it needs a different cooling system for each piece, increasing the size of the console, and don't forget the power supply, i don't know how that will play out, but the idea it self is not bad as long as they don't make upgrades every six months lol

AAACE54174d ago

Believe it or not consoles used to be made with upgrades in mind. The n64 had the ram upgrade and an under slot for the disc drive that only released in japan. The sega genesis had so many addons it was sickening.

It wouldnt be hard to design a console that has slots to upgrade ram and gpu. But the cpu would probably have to stay in place.

It would be cool if we were able to swap out disc drives since those die out.

Bathyj4174d ago

The RAM expansion only came out after they realised Perfect Dark was going to run like crap without it and it was a big game for Nintendo with alot of anticipation for it. It never would have released if not for that game.

And it was horribly under utilised by other games that came after that.

I can only surmise that the fact there was a slot even built for it that Nintendo knew the N64 was going to be lacking in this area from the start.

cee7734174d ago (Edited 4174d ago )

then why was it a slot for ram genius

THC CELL4174d ago (Edited 4174d ago )

Sony owns a patent to upgradable consoles http://www.gtplanet.net/for...

konnerbllb4174d ago

They own a patent to do a very specific thing with their own console. They don't own a patent on upgradable consoles, that's ridiculous. Notice how Sony patented their own kinect technology earlier this year and didn't get sued into the ground by Microsoft? The same idea can be patented for different applications using different means of achieving what is patented.

ALLWRONG4174d ago

@THC CELL Why the hell did you post that?

GraveLord4174d ago

Never going to happen. The whole point of consoles is that you don't to worry about any sort of settings/requirements. Just pop in and play.

Why would someone buy an upgrade-able console when they can just buy a PC which would give you a much wider range of options.

Indo4174d ago (Edited 4174d ago )

Exactly. Everyone buys a console for the simplicity factor. If you want an upgradable system invest in a Gaming PC.

BitbyDeath4174d ago

Story Quality = WTF?

Consoles are popular because you don't have to upgrade.
Aside from Software you literally plug and play.

Why nerd it up?

Show all comments (31)
170°

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

Read Full Story >>
insider-gaming.com
Hereandthere4h ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN1h ago

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

PassNextquestion3h ago(Edited 3h 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

blacktiger1h ago

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

Profchaos3h ago(Edited 3h 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

Tacoboto3h ago

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

Profchaos2h ago

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

XiNatsuDragnel2h ago

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

Profchaos37m ago(Edited 37m ago)

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

TheColbertinator1h 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 (11)
100°

Sony Could Increase Your Game's Difficulty If It Sees You Complain About It

Sony has recently published a new patent that wants to dynamically handle the games' difficulty and gameplay based on the player's emotions.

jznrpg4h ago

This is something I might use. Sometimes I play some good games but they don’t have difficulty option and are a little too easy.

Profchaos4h ago

Souls games will be like that players struggling make it harder

PassNextquestion3h ago(Edited 3h ago)

I think if used correctly it could work well

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?"

purple10111d 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 ☝️

Zeref10d 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.

DarXyde10d 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.

PhillyDonJawn10d ago (Edited 10d 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.

Einhander197210d 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.

MrBaskerville10d 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.

shinoff218310d 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.

Profchaos10d 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 10d ago
isarai11d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref10d 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.

MrNinosan10d ago

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

mkis0079d ago (Edited 9d ago )

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

Einhander197211d 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.

11d ago Replies(3)
Einhander197211d ago

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

11d ago
10d ago
Zeref10d 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.

DarXyde10d 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.

Einhander197210d 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.

Einhander197210d 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.

BehindTheRows10d ago (Edited 10d 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.

Zeref10d ago (Edited 10d 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.

Chevalier10d 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.

Tacoboto10d 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.

shinoff218310d ago

Yay steam

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

Tacoboto10d 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 10d ago
Hofstaderman10d 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?

crazyCoconuts10d 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.

Xeofate10d ago (Edited 10d 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.

crazyCoconuts9d 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

FinalFantasyFanatic9d 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)