1020°

Xbox One GPU speed increased since E3, says Microsoft

New additions to the Xbox One hardware since it was last shown at E3 include a new graphics driver and an increase to the GPU's clock speed, says Whitten.

Read Full Story >>
gamespot.com
bicfitness3933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

53 Mhz, which is next to nothing. Takes it up to a 1.3 TF machine (from 1.24) compared to 1.8 on the PS4. To give you an idea of what that sort of overclocking does on PC components, 100 Mhz can squeeze out another 4-5 FPS: so half of that. This uptick puts it close to a 7770m or thereabouts - again showing how erroneous that abstract DF theoretical performance article was. In any event, the hardware is still miserably overpriced for the $500 asking price. Most sub $400 laptops have better components.

Also, these constant dribs and drabs of useless, positive information are pretty desperate PR damage control for the last three months. Better hope this doesn't increase the TDP of the machine or we'll have a red ring 2.0.

SDS Gamerfiend3933d ago

Well this is no news. I sure hope the 12gb ram rumor is true.

NewMonday3933d ago

"53 Mhz, which is next to nothing. Takes it up to a 1.3 TF machine"

this barly offsets the 10% amount the XB1 OS reserves from the GPU.

http://kotaku.com/the-five-...

PIRGANEK3933d ago

Can I ask you a serious question? Like man to man/woman.. What the hell would the 12 GB ram solve? Aside from giving people reasons to justify why the console is so over priced? I mean most games today on my PC barely use the 6GB of ram on my PC, and on my PS3 that 256-512MB ram is still used today to create stellar titles like Heavenly Sword or The Last Of Us.

FrigidDARKNESS3933d ago

Several tech websites says the ram has been upgraded to 12gb.

Docknoss3933d ago

I wonder what kind of new graphic's driver and how much of an increase it is.

RadioActiveTwinky3933d ago

The 12GB rumor is not a rumor. It only became a Rumor because people wanted it to become true.
The origin of the 12GB rumor comes from the DevKits the developers received. The 12GB helps the developers relieve some of the stresses of development.
It is really low that they would add more ram to a console considering it cost them a boat load of money when they did it with the 360. They went from 256gb to 512gb.
Also if they did add the RAM they run the risk of adding more heat to the console. This is bad news because it could be the RROD all over again. I am sure and hope they learned from that mistake.
Even if they do add the RAM it will still be slightly under powered. 1GB of DDR3 is equivalent to 512gb GDDR5.
Also DDR3 is great for software process and stuff like that where GDDR5 is great for rendering polygons and stuff like that. If anything the DDR3 will make the xbox ones OS faster then that of the ps4.

WarThunder3933d ago

After all the s**t MS did, people believe what they say?

fanboys (facepalm)...

Bluepowerzz3933d ago

12 gig ram you must be smoking dat good ish

3933d ago
JsonHenry3933d ago

@PIRGANEK - that extra RAM could actually help in a whole host of ways. From allowing for more/higher rez textures since it shares this with the GPU, to allowing more stored data for quicker access, to simply allowing the devs to be lazier and rely on more ram instead of optimizing for it.

However in the end I seriously doubt the 12gb of RAM rumor is true. (at least for retail hardware)

gaffyh3933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

The 12GB rumour will NOT be true, it was just some bullshit that some guys posted as a joke on a forum, and people took it seriously. Is it were true, it would mean that MS would have to reconfigure their entire Xbone motherboard, and would mean that they would be even MORE behind in manufacturing etc.

Also, it is not a good sign that they are upclocking this late, when they had so many RROD issues because of a similar thing last gen. Although the upclock is quite small, so maybe they figured it was "safe" to do it by this much.

darthv723933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

Not sure why the complaining is for. they improved the fuel efficiency of their engine. And it doesnt cost us anymore than the original sticker price.

Some companies would charge more for such a minimal performance improvement. Every little bit helps.

I wouldnt be surprised if they continue to tweak the performance. Maybe take it up to 66MHz increase.

As to the memory rumor...you can't solve problems by simply throwing memory at it. there is a point where the system just wont use any more than it needs.

sinjonezp3933d ago

All this 12gbs of ram talk might as well go to 16; two 8 gig modules is about 48 bucks. (Takes a puff of that sticky).

sinjonezp3933d ago

All this talk of 12gbs of ram, they might as well go to 16; two 8gbs modules..(takes a puff of that sticky).

ShwankyShpanky3933d ago

"All this 12gbs of ram talk might as well go to 16; two 8 gig modules is about 48 bucks."

You do understand that an upgrade would require a bit more than just swapping in higher cap DIMMs, right?

Wanted Rogue3933d ago

@xmarksdaspot_

The ESRAM is used for tiled resources; the single biggest reasons why all these Sony numbers are utterly meaningless when determining the capabilities of each console. 32mb of ESRAM is huge, twice what is really needed today.

From Toms Hardware, also look for the presentation from MS on YouTube. Very interesting..

"This technique was demonstrated with a model of Mars which displayed a 3 GB texture using just 16 MB of GPU memory and in Graphine’s Granite Flight Simulator that showed "a remarkably detailed island with gliders constructed out of 64 megapixels."

http://www.tomshardware.com...

This is a massive advantage for the Xbox One. You want numbers? 3Gb = 16Mb.

The Xbox one doesn't need raw power because it is more efficient.

Kingthrash3603933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

^^ swankey didnt get sinjon's joke....lol I did.....pass that sinjon...** takes a pull holds inhale** maybe they could take some power from the kinect....prolly will get a gig or two of ram from dat. ** exhale**

devwan3933d ago

@xmarksdaspot_ "The question is what is the ESRAM used for exactly."

Frame buffer.

fr0sty3933d ago

@ Xmarksdaspot, how do you know you aren't talking to engineers? You don't. You also don't know what you are talking about, which is why you are having to resort to ad hominem attacks on the source of this information, since you don't know enough about the actual information to be able to debate it.

3-4-53933d ago

12gb ram would actually be something worth talking about as an additional 4GB would become an advantage for XB1 about 4-6 years from now when they can take advantage of more than 8GB.

Nothing on the market or currently available actually NEEDS more than 8GB.

3933d ago
3933d ago
papashango3933d ago

in more news ps4 and x1 are still using underpowered medium end GPU's and N4G seems to think otherwise.

ALLWRONG3933d ago

X1 uses less ram for OS than PS4.

Balances out nicely.

dedicatedtogamers3933d ago

Good to hear there's a slight upclock, as long as it doesn't create heat issues.

So, lemme guess? Now that Xbox One's GPU is slightly faster (though still significantly behind PS4's) GPU matters all over again? Even though the war cry for the last three months was "RAM doesn't matter. GPU doesn't matter. CPU doesn't matter. It's all about Tiled Resources and Move Engines" now it's all about "teh powah of the GPU!!!"

Seems par for the course. Reminds me of the Sony camp circa 2005-2006.

kickerz3933d ago

"Pump up the Ram, pump it up, while your feet are stompin. And the Ram is pumpin look ahead, the fanboys are jumpin"

Gamer19823933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

OMG you really think the consoles are not in production already? Are people that silly? You can overclock GPU a little to squeeze out speed thats definitely plausible which can give this article merit especially since we heard earlier consoles were actually down clocked thanks to heat issues. A simple firmware update could easily do this. However its wayy to late to add an extra 4gb RAM this late into the lifecycle. They cna add it to the dev kits to maybe relieve some stress off devs as they are actually working on W7 and Nvidia dev kits as we saw in those images leaked from E3.

But if people think MS can actually get out millions of these day one and only start manufacturing in say August or September there off there nut. These were being manufactured in Factories months before E3. So unless they throw away hundreds of thousands if not millions of consoles I seriously doubt they can upgrade the RAM now. Only Those who think it can make a difference and think this is some win over PS4 want this to be true.

malol3933d ago

i still think this is a bad choice to go with.

overclocking a GPU dose not really worth it and it actually may cause some serious overheating problems.

at best they may get few extra FPS but it wont be any game changer, besides this most assured is going to effect the life of the console.

Ritsujun3933d ago

Insignificant upgrade. Try harder, Microsofie.

rainslacker3933d ago

@malol

They're not overclocking the GPU. They're just increasing it's speed. They can do this, I assume, because they are able to increase the yield percentages at a higher frequency.

Think of it in terms of CPU's. In general, there isn't any difference hardware wise between a 2.3 GHZ CPU and a 2.6GHZ CPU(not always true, sometimes there are minor differences). One is just rated to run faster without problems off the production line after fabrication.

Overclocking infers that you are taking a chips clock frequency beyond it's tested/rated speed as determined by the manufacturer. It's possible to overclock because most manufacturers of CPU/GPU's tend to rate them on the safe side to prevent failure.

It could be done in several ways, however, I assume it's being done by increasing the clock multiplier slightly in firmware, since the parts for the X1 are most likely already in production. This is the same way you would overclock, however in this scenario it is the manufacturers rated speed, hence not overclocking.

SDS Gamerfiend3932d ago

Xflame fanboys have spoken smh

SDS Gamerfiend3932d ago

Disagree with this, XBONE = you being 12 and mom and dad is your console maker!

+ Show (28) more repliesLast reply 3932d ago
Fishy Fingers3933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

"100 Mhz can squeeze out another 4-5 FPS"

Based on what? I've always overclocked my GPU and I dont think I've ever seen such an increase in frame rate from such a small OC. Also, results would vary depending on the game/engine. If my GPU was struggling to get 10FPS, would a 100mhz OC give me 50% more FPS?? Of course not. Honestly, if you want to learn absolutely nothing about tech, N4G comment section would be a good place to start.

Baka-akaB3933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

Spot on . Even with console architectures being different , there are stuff you just can't do with Hardware .

bicfitness3933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

I OC all the time. 100mhz on a 7790, 660 and 680 (three cards I've all tweaked) is about 4-5 FPS when run through benchmarking tests. I wasn't talking about bottom of the basement GPUs obviously, you can't squeeze performance out of a turd. We're looking at mid-range> lower high-end spectrum GPUs, which is what these are. 100 mhz is hardly a "small" uptick on an 800mhz GPU if we're talking about base clock frequency.

You're being contentious and spouting nonsense when by your own admission and semblance of knowledge on the topic, you should know better. For the record, I never said or implied anything as ridiculous as: "If my GPU was struggling to get 10FPS, would a 100mhz OC give me 50% more FPS". I was speaking in reference to a 7770m or thereabouts, which are MID-RANGE GPUS. Or even less than that now, really.

HammadTheBeast3933d ago

That's assuming your GPU is struggling with only 10 fps.

hollabox3933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

Yeah 100 MHZ is a small bump but if you can squeeze 4-5 FPS I would take that any day of the week. I would rather play a game at a solid 30 FPS than 24-26 FPS so the small bump makes sense to me. What I'm laughing at is the magical numbers people seem to make up and pass their comments off as being facts. I'm seeing any where from 50 MHZ to 200 MHZ increase in GPU clock rates, and a additional 2-4 GBs of ram for XB1.

Well I guess PS4 fanboys did the same thing with the 7GB of ram available to developers when Sony never confirmed or I guess denied that figure. Now I'm seeing PS4 CPUs being clocked at 2.75 GHZ. I wonder what both consoles specs will turn out to be when production finally starts in the next 6 weeks.

3933d ago
Withdreday3933d ago

Sony should increase their's too

wishingW3L3933d ago

100MHZ might not seem like much for a CPU but that kind of increase is not small by GPU standards.

ProjectVulcan3933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

53 megahertz is 6.62 percent increase over a base of 800mhz. This is pretty insignificant, hardly seems worth the effort.

All it says to me is that Microsoft know they are down on performance to PS4, and are squeezing to do everything they possibly can to close the gap. Why 53 megahertz? Why not just 50? Because thats how much they are squeezing here, to the maximum they can get from their design.

Overclocks don't yield linear performance increases, so a 6.62 percent increase in clocks will not yield a 6.62 percent gain in performance. Likely you'll find performance gains are significantly less, maybe they have gained 5 percent tops in real world performance.

You might get another 1.5 frames per second on a 30FPS game.

Like I said, hardly seems worth the bother- especially if they have done anything that will increase the voltage and thus power consumption and heat output.

Most decent PC GPUs running on reference clocks can easily exceed 10 percent OC depending on architecture. A 7970 gigahertz for example already has a highly pumped 1ghz core clockspeed but generally most samples will push well beyond 1100mhz (10 percent) and be stable.

6.62 percent is nothing....its clearly a reactionary move to PS4 much like half of Microsoft's policies at the moment.

tee_bag2423932d ago

I have to agree. So many clueless fanboys.
Too all those who thing increasing the RAM is going to allow for higher res textures..not without more Vram on your GPU.
The X1 GPU is grossly underpowered no matter how much you overclock it

N4g_null3932d ago

I agree with you totally fingers.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 3932d ago
Thomper3933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

I didn't spot any "better than PS4" claims in that article, so why you thought it necessary to carry out a predictable and boring chest-beating exercise was beyond me......unless....gasp.....you 're one of those "fanboys" we hear so much about.

extermin8or3933d ago

He never mentioned PS4....

Dread3933d ago

yes he did in the fist sentence. Why dont you read before you comment.

creatchee3933d ago

"53 Mhz, which is next to nothing. Takes it up to a 1.3 TF machine (from 1.24) compared to 1.8 on the PS4."

His first two sentences. Come on!

XB1_PS43933d ago

@Dread The article doesn't mention Ps4 at all. What did you read?

s8anicslayer3933d ago

@dread this is a complete copy and past from the article, where the hell did you see him mention the PS4?

Microsoft corporate vice president Marc Whitten speaks about some changes and additions Microsoft has made to the Xbox One since E3, including a 53mhz bump to the GPU speed.

Microsoft corporate vice president Marc Whitten has spoken about some of the changes and additions Microsoft is making to the current Xbox One development kits, including an increase to the GPU's clock speed and a new graphics driver.

Speaking on the podcast of Microsoft spokesperson Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb, Whitten said "this is the time, and this is the thing I think people are going to see as we get into Gamescom and people get their first look at new things since E3. This is the time where developers have the final dev kits in their hands, they're really working closely with us on how things have come together. There's some things that have really started to come together quite well."

Whitten also said that Microsoft's internal beta for the Xbox One was currently running, and that the hardware manufacturer was releasing daily builds for the console's operating system.

New additions to the Xbox One hardware since it was last shown at E3 include a new graphics driver and an increase to the GPU's clock speed, says Whitten.

"Since E3, an example is that we've dropped in what we internally call our mono driver. It's our graphics driver that really is 100 percent optimised for the Xbox One hardware. You start with the base [DirectX] driver, and then you take out all parts that don't look like Xbox One and you add in everything that really optimises that experience. Almost all of our content partners have really picked it up now, and I think it's made a really nice improvement."

"This is the time where we've gone from the theory of how the hardware works--what do we think the yield is going to look like, what is the thermal envelope, how do things come together--to really having them in our hands. That's the time where you start tweaking the knobs. Either your theory was right dead on, or you were a little too conservative, or you were a little too aggressive. It's actually been really good news for us, and an example of that is we've tweaked up the clock speed on our GPU from 800mhz to 853mhz."

RememberThe3573933d ago

What are you guys talking about? Dread is talking about the comment that Thomper is replying to.

And Dread, it's the second sentence, but you were close.

andibandit3933d ago

@exterminator, sofresh, s8anicslayer

Thomper is actually responding to bicfitness, not the article.

Thomper3933d ago

and the moral of this story is...read, understand or just be quiet :0)

loving all the "disagrees" to FACTS

Fanboys are fun, thick as sh!t, but fun

Dread3933d ago

you guys are so funny.

Do you understand the difference between commenting on an artcle and making a reply to a comment?

wow, just wow

again read before you comment.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 3933d ago
fermcr3933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

53 Mhz is not much of a difference. They should change to a better GPU... but now it's probably to late.

Krosis3933d ago

Ps4 too: both gpus suck

Animal Mutha 763933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

Don't knock it - If its True. Every little Mhz helps and it represents 6.5% increase.

I don't think its intentional PR either, that's just trying to make something out of nothing.

I'd say the same thing if this was about the PS4 GPU. If you don't like the XB1 don't comment in an XB1 article.

@ Exterminator - Yes he did mention PS4.

deadfrag3933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

You are forgeting one thing!Yes every little mhz helps but in this case they are doing an overclock,and this overclock is very diferent to the one i can do on a PC.Microsoft is overclocking a Gpu that is not made to OC especially since this OC cant be turn off like on PC!On Pc you have tools that overclock or even underclock your PC when you need it on the fly, on the xboxone the overclock is forever so this means the lifetime of the gpu has decresed,im almost sure that we will see Xboxone failure rate been higher just by implementing this OC. Not to mention that every CPU from the ones in the xboxone will react diferently to the OC.

ala_7673933d ago

Stop talking nonsense! Red ring occured once and M$ isnt that stupid that they will repeat the same!!! U dont need to compare with a PC....

Sony and M$ can make a system more powerful than a PC but consumers at large will not be able to afford it which will be a loss for them!!!

dennett3163933d ago

People keep saying "more powerful than a PC" as if the PC is a static platform. Which PC are people talking about when they say this? It seems like such a pointless thing to say when youi have people out there cramming multiple Titans, 32gigs of RAM, watercooling and CPU's that cost nearly as much as the entire PS4 console.
Consoles can't compete with that...but they CAN offer a lot of performance for your money due to their customisations and everything being geared purely towards gaming performance.

s8anicslayer3933d ago

If true because a speed increase is a good thing in processing circumstances I would hope that the machine also gets a cooling upgrade from the original given microsofts past with overheating with the 360.

andibandit3933d ago

With ms experience regarding rrod, im sure they overcompensated for it big time. Anyways the x1 is so big, you could start a campfire in there and it would still run.

darthv723933d ago

More than half of the shell is ventilated to provide airflow in/out. Cooling has been a big concern and it looks like they addressed it.

Oh and the unit isnt as BIG as people want to portray it. Don't they know the camera adds 10 lbs.

3933d ago Replies(1)
GunsAndTheBeast3933d ago

Just another one of many ways to silence the crowd, almost as if it's a threat, if you say this, we're gonna do it. So, shut. 20 exclusives teaser? Sure.. Let's just see if they're good enough.

imt5583933d ago

A little correction : XO probably now 1.31 TF, PS4 1.84 TF.:)

But i think clockspeed returned to regular 800 MHz + 3 because a downclock speed for 50 MHz and yield problems about 2 months ago.

andibandit3933d ago

I think you may have downclocked your brain by accident

stiggs3933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

It's a given that any article on N4G that paints the XBOX One in a positive light will be shot down by the first person to post a comment.

bicfitness, why are you even here? You obviously have no interest in Microsoft's console. What is it that compels you to rush to a new Xbox One thread and post a negative response? I'm looking for a legitimate answer because I simply don't understand that mindset.

It would be really terrific if you and every other gaming zealot would just stick to posting comments on threads related to your console of choice. Wouldn't that be better for everybody...or do you prefer to be viewed as an overly critical, insecure, fanboy?

tuglu_pati3933d ago

"bicfitness, why are you even here? You obviously have no interest in Microsoft's console."

Insecurities about their console of choice.

KillrateOmega3933d ago

Last time I checked there were no rules stating that you could only post in articles relating to your console of choice. I also don't recall seeing any rules stating that any post in console article had to be positive.

This is a news/forum-based website. If somebody wants to post a comment, regardless of its nature, then they have every right to do so and are, in fact, encouraged to do so. Free speech, bro.

stiggs3933d ago

@KillrateOmega

I knew that someone would respond to my comment with a prefatory reference to an individuals right to express whatever is on their mind in a public forum.

So, if I began to insult you, your family and anyone associated with you on a deeply personal level then you'd be okay with that because, you know "free speech, bro".

Judging by the fact that you felt compelled to give me a rudimentary lesson in online etiquette I think that it's safe to assume that you didn't understand the point of my original comment.

TheTwelve3933d ago

"It would be really terrific if you and every other gaming zealot would just stick to posting comments on threads related to your console of choice."

--- how pathetic. If you can't handle an open discussion, start a private forum and only allow people in who show you their Xbox Live name. You're just as much a zealot as he whom you criticize.

12

starchild3933d ago

Look at the fanboys making excuses for other fanboys of their ilk.

@TheTwelve

Trolling is what this is, not an attempt to have a discussion. If you can't see the difference, it's probably because you are of the same mind as bicfitness.

edgeofsins3933d ago

@Stiggs

People are free to voice their opinion on a product. He wanted to read the article out of interest. You're just being ignorant about it. I don't like the XBox One so far but I can still be interested in things about it. Maybe what I read will change my mind.

In a court of law they see free speech as different from personal insults. There is a strong difference so don't use that terrible argument.

How is someone to chose a console if they aren't educated on them? They read articles to do so. Just because they chose one console does not mean they can't look for another.

Oh. I see what it is. You are a fanboy. Looking at your comment history you just post a bunch of deliberate ignorant comments when you can't provide a good argument with people with different opinions. Sarcasm doesn't win arguments.

You posted several comments on Sony-related articles that are anti-Sony and PS4. What a hypocrite.

You create flame-bait comments on Sony articles and then pretend you are the better man that wouldn't do that. It started when you kept trying to tell people that Sony would use DRM before they announced whether or not they were. They stumped you with your false argument by imposing no DRM on retail physical copies and even drove the competition to have to do so so now you have to find more reasons to pretend like they deserve hatred.

stiggs3933d ago

@edgeofsins

"I'm a fanboy? I create flame-bait comments...?"

Are you sure that you are addressing the right person? Because it seems like have no idea what you are talking about.

I've owned almost every major console since their inception from the 2600 to the PS3. I don't have any allegiance to one company or the other which explains why I've already pre-ordered a PS4 and a XBOX one.

The only time that I have ever posted a comment about the PS4 which cold be interpreted as negative was back before E3. I was under the impression that they would adopt a similar DRM stance as MS. I was wrong, which was great, and I admitted it.

If anyone is trolling its you with all of your false assumptions and allegations.

kenshiro1003932d ago

Then start your own forum titled '360 fans only'.

Problem solved. N4G is an open forum. As long as the person isn't outright trolling, then I see nothing wrong with discussion.

Some of you who scream about fanboys act the same way.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 3932d ago
mewhy323933d ago

Well after all the bad press micro$oft has to do something. Now they've increased the speed of their vastly inferior GPU so they can have something positive to say about the specs of the xbone. But I'm sure they won't mention the 1.8 tflops, or the ALUs, or the ROPs, or the GDRR5? ROFL man micro$oft is getting desperate. The xbone fans think that every little inkling of good information is the best thing ever!!! But then after the disaster of e3 for micro$oft, I guess any good news regarding the inferior, overpriced, spy camera NSA box is something to cheer about. LOL

Animal Mutha 763933d ago

Everything you just said there is truly cringe worthy.

As Stiggs above said to Bicfitness:

"why are you even here? You obviously have no interest in Microsoft's console."

That applies to you too.

Pathetic....

joefrost003933d ago

I can care less about ALUs and RAM ect
I look at the games and features coming from the system
And I see more games being technically better 1080p 60fps on the xbox one
Period
You can talk theories and tech demos
Tech demos and theories on specs on both systems that not even out yet is just hysterical to me
I know a lot about programming but trying to explain why in some cases the ps4 is better.and other cases the X1 is better in specs I would need 3or4 pages
Let your eyes and hands tell you which is performing better

Wanted Rogue3933d ago

What I love about the PS4;

178
5.5
8
1.84
5
4
500
Mark Cerny

What I love about the Xbox One;

Voice activated game commands
Advanced AI from the cloud
Instant switching
Split screen snapping
Real life avatars
Facial recognition
TV
Game recording and online sharing
Smart Matching
In game socialising

Size isn't everything, it's what you do with it. lol

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3933d ago
rela82me3933d ago

So what your post essentially says is... Your annoyed by all these positive articles.they just aren't positive enough. However it seems that when there are negative articles you Sony guys are jumping for joy.

Regardless of whether or not it's minor, at least it's more
It shows they are able to improve and be more efficient.

I may be wrong about this because I don't know a whole a lot about hardware But aren't the hardware speeds unconfirmed in the first place being that it's a custom GPU? So how can one know how much the product has increased and is final limits?

Coach_McGuirk3933d ago

imagine if sony came out and said the ps4's graphics clock was increased by 53mhz. This comments section would be filled up with how awesome sony is, and how the ps4 is going to mop the floor and do your dishes.

CrusRuss3933d ago

I find it strange that both ms and Sony went to AMD to buy a GPU and Sony got a more powerful GPU outright (based on currently known specs). The MHz bump that ms is doing is simply an overclock based on good GPU yields, however in PC land most companies eg Gigabyte/Asus release a factory overclocked board, so this is nothing un-normal.

Will be interesting to see real world tests.

SkullBlade1693932d ago

53MHz doesn't make a functional difference at all, so it doesn't matter.

If I overclocked my PC's CPU or GPU by 53MHz it would make hardly any difference what so ever, the speed increase is just too small.

its no big deal either way...

Fireseed3933d ago

So dribs and drabs of information about the Xbox that ACTUALLY relates to the console is damage control... but hordes and hordes of articles asking whether the PS4 will "crush" the Xbox One isn't PR control?

GraveLord3933d ago

Why so many disagrees? You are spot on.

The fact that such a small increase in power is really the only good press they've gotten lately is very alarming. They'll take what they can get I guess.

Anyway this IS good news. Every little bit helps and in a closed-platform 53MhZ is probably more significant than it would be on a PC.

Wanted Rogue3933d ago

I never realised how much of a PS fanboy site this was. Absolutely every single article about the Xbox One is ripped and torn apart, each update claiming to be "unbiased" or declaring "indisputable facts" about hardware specs despite very little knowledge of the architecture behind the specs.

The point I this article is positive, good news; you know "good for games". Unless of course you can't bear to see the Xbox One offer look like a better system or do something the PS doesn't. In which case you better play it down and make it look like a real bad thing.

I'm sure the fanboys won't disappoint me......disagree away!

Withdreday3933d ago

What, they couldn't go toe to toe with the system they had?

This makes Microsoft look pathetic

Coach_McGuirk3933d ago

why does this news make you so sad?

SignifiedSix913933d ago

Its only okay for sony to upgrade their hardware.

Withdreday3933d ago

The fact that they have to look at Sony's specs and adjust theirs just shows they weren't that confident in the hardware to begin with, especially when you consider them trying to downplay the PS4's power after E3.

Plus the fact that they even needed Sony's specs just to look for a benchmark to improve the Xbox One just shows they're already playing catch up and they're not capable of making a great system on their own.

Remember the 360 was much weaker before they peaked at the PS3's specs too. MS is just playing copy cat at this point.

Coach_McGuirk3933d ago

a Sony fan talking about copying another company? that's rich!

Withdreday3933d ago

@ taiyed80,

Take a look at Xbox One's most "innovative" features like Kinect 2.0 or the DVR capabilities, and you'll see that most were ripped from either Apple, Google TV, or Sony (Remember Kinect is nothing more than a rebranded Eyetoy...), so a Microsoft fan is in no position to say MS is free from copy cat syndrome.

In fact everything seen in the XBox One are features that are done in other products. The only reason MS fans are getting such a nerd-on for them is because they slapped "Microsoft" on it and rebranded it as their own.

If any other system had them, it wouldn't be seen as that original and they wouldn't be hyping it as much, no doubt in my mind.

MS fans need to take those rose colored hype glasses O.F.F. I mean seriously. You can build a PC for the same price that's 10x more powerful. It's nothing special.

At least the Ps4 offers value for it's lack of power vs PC.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3933d ago
SignifiedSix913933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

"Most sub $400 laptops have better components."

You just lost all credibility right there.

Show me a game like RYSE, BF4 and whatever else, running at the same quality of what we've seen the X1 doing.

You know what? Show me a $400 laptop that can run BF3 on high settings. I'll be waiting for the link.

quenomamen3933d ago

Lol 54 Mhz what a joke, Ive had diarrhea and had stuff flying out my A at a faster rate. First it was the Cloud now this plus the 12G RAM. Yea, ahuh ok MS.

Izzy4083933d ago

You might wanna go see a doctor if this is true. Maybe get a prescription for anti-fanboyism while you're there perhaps?

bigfish3933d ago

MS are getting fairly desperate clinging on any bit of hope to rescue them from loosing the next gen

stuna13933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

This thread is halariously funny!

First we have the XB1 fans saying that the Sony fans will eat up anything Sony put out positive about the PS4, yet the XB1 fans are doing the exact same things!

Second, when it was mentioned that the PS4 had only 4.5 to 5.5 gb of available ram for the PS4, the XB1 fans went into a circle-jerk frenzy!

Third, the inclusion of Kinects being a potential spying apparatus, (Which I agree on by the way)! We had everyone and their momma on here saying or comparing it to everything on the planet, that could be potentially used to spy on people, and if you didn't like it...... you know the coined phrase "DealWithIt".

Then we have the same fans of their respective systems off choice, vocally castrating and dismembering each other for the sake of there being an extra cloud in the sky or, a wave crest higher than another in a multiplatfom game.

Lastly we have the spec know it all, who knows every concievable outcome of the workings of a machine that they took no part in helping to construct! But yet they can tell you every benefit as well as issue you'll encounter.

NG4 reminds me of being locked in a pantry, with nothing but "Pots and Kettles".

And yes I belive all that Microsoft is doing is in response to PS4's showing! Just imagine Sony were out of the equation altogether, do people really believe Microsoft would have been so quick to do a 180? Hell No! The good news trickling out is in direct response to Sony unveiling, and you don't need bi-focals to see it. What we're seeing from Microsoft now, is what we should have seen at E3 then, there no getting around that.

MarkusMcNugen3933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

@stuna1

I agree with almost everything you said. So you get a well said, although I have to say something about the kinect as a spying apparatus as you put it. The reason people were comparing it to other products is simply because all technology has the potential to be maliciously hacked.

Anything with a camera could be used to spy on you if hacked. It has been done with laptops, phones, cams on desktop PCs, pretty much everything. People who have a problem with kinect as a spying machine should be weary of any technology that has networking capabilities and a camera. Its ridiculous to pick one product and call it a spying machine or all seeing eye when the same can be said for so many other devices that would actually be easier to hack.

As far as I know, the kinect is not submitting your live video stream through a centralized hub. So hacking a server to watch people on their kinect is not an option. Each individual Xbox One would have to be hacked/infected to pull video from the machine.

Not that this would comfort the conspiracy theorists but it might put some peoples minds at ease if Microsoft specifically stated that the data used for kinect was encrypted.

princejb1343933d ago

This is 2005 all over again. MS adding last minute hardware or changing their hardware just to compete with the competition
Here comes the red rings

DonFreezer3933d ago

Are you that buthurt ps hypocrites? GPU clock speeds are the only information you can find on a graphics card dealer so that must be the most significant.Stop it now with the teraflop bullshit before we shut your mouth for good.

3933d ago
starchild3933d ago

Sheesh what a horrible fanboy. The fact that the trolls on this site are the ones with all the bubbles shows how messed up this site is.

Get it through your head, different people have different interests and needs.

gamernova3933d ago

Console gamers talk about how specs don't matter...but always bring em up when it's xbox vs ps. *sigh* lol

3933d ago
hellzsupernova3933d ago

Wtf are microsoft up to you can't seriously think they had this all planned out you can't go changing a console on the fly. I think Sony took them by surprise this year and they weren't going to be ready until next year.

MarkusMcNugen3933d ago

You most certainly can change a consoles specs on the fly if its a simple GPU or CPU overclock. Its ridiculously easy to do.

On a side note, use more periods next time. Its harder to read a run-on sentence that is composed of three separate sentences.

WeedyOne3933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

I wouldnt say its next to nothing.

I recently overclocked my 5850 from the stock 725MHz core clock and 1000MHz memory clock to 775MHz core clock and 1125MHz memory clock. I do notice a few more FPS playing BF3. This is about the same amount of overclock that microsoft is claiming.

Really this is great news considering there were older rumors claiming that microsoft was going to downclock the GPU because of low yeilds.

There is one possible downside to overclocking though. When i overclocked my temperatures did increase, i had to speed up the fan as not to overheat and so it makes more noise...

MarkusMcNugen3933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

"There is one possible downside to overclocking though. When i overclocked my temperatures did increase, i had to speed up the fan as not to overheat and so it makes more noise..."

True, that is always the case with pushing more power from a chip. The increase in noise though should only be if the GPU is under high load. If its idling or you are just watching a video and the fan is loud, you are doing something wrong.

Depending on the heatsink the Xbox One uses and how well the case can ventilate the heat this may not be a problem at all.

WeedyOne3933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

The fan is at 20% power when at adle and ramps up depending on load. I use MSI afterburner, it has a nifty fan control where you can set a graph that speeds up the fan depending on GPU temps. The fan only gets louder when playing games.

However when I 1st overclocked the card and didnt adjust the fan speed i was reaching 88 degrees while gaming. For some reason stock fan speeds on a 5850 dont seem to go over 38% even under high temps. After making some custom fan settings it is now in the low 70's while gaming.

MarkusMcNugen3932d ago

Sounds about right. I had the same fan issue when I overclocked my HD4870. Although I didnt use any manufacturer software. I ended up using RivaTuner. Same principle though.

TomShoe3933d ago

PS4 is still better, so this is non-news.

yeahokchief3933d ago

Yep that was the first thought that crossed my mind.

This is going to be the next RRoD so they can sell more units to the suckers that buy them.

If they wanted to increase power of the graphics card they wouldn't have chose such a cheap card.

3932d ago
3932d ago
3932d ago
+ Show (31) more repliesLast reply 3932d ago
golding893933d ago

Not a major improvement but Hey More is always better.

sobotz3933d ago

if the GPU clock boosting rumor is true, then maybe the 12gb RAM rumor could also be true

die_fiend3933d ago

At which point, you wake up and realise you're still living the nightmare of Xbox fanboyism

sobotz3933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

Nah, I don't really mind if it turns out a hoax. I'll buy PS4 for exclusives later, so it won't matter which console had superior specs, since I'll own both

Nekroo913933d ago

why the hell does the console need 12GB of ram, 3 for the OS and 9 for games?! are you kidding...most games dont even use 4gb

GraveLord3933d ago

Quantity isn't Microsoft problem here, its quality.(or in this case speed)

MarkusMcNugen3933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

@Nekroo91

Its called future proofing, however I agree with you. Considering the textures they were able to push with 256-512MBs of ram in the PS4 and 360, 12GBs would be overkill. Still, more RAM never hurts. NEVER.

If they were going to increase the amount of RAM Im sure they would compensate for the extra heat output with more cooling.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3933d ago
Codey473933d ago

@ Nekroo

Even if games don't max out the ram, presently...doesn't mean they are never going to max out.

Attitudes like that are sure to keep gaming in the dark ages.

Nekroo913933d ago

consoles are different from pcs , they dont need 12Gb of ram because its all about coding .
Thats why we get games like the last of us with 512mb of ram.

12gb will increase the price and even if MS keeps with the same price it will create more heat so more risk of failure.

Theendgame3933d ago

6.6% improvement in performance. Xbox one's 1.23Tflop increased to 1.33Tflop.

Sarobi3933d ago

So from 800MHz to 853MHZ.. I don't think that'll really do anything, but whatever floats their boat.

SuperLupe3933d ago

Hey their engineers improved it by 53mhz because they are engineers and know what they are doing. They've been working on the hardware for years now so if they modify it its for the better.

You are Sarobi, a N4G engineer your knowledge and experience in that domain: nothing.

Not only do you know nothing but on top of that the closest you have got to a next gen console is a Youtube video. Let the big boys do their thing, they're paid for that. I'm sure they didnt just do it for fun if you know what I mean.

kwyjibo3933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

Nothing has actually changed engineering wise.

It's the same chip. It just depends on AMD's yields and the thermal/stability envelope.

Sarobi3933d ago

I know enough about computer components and how they function. This isn't rocket science here buddy, you can go to school for this stuff you know?

SuperLupe3933d ago

Dude what I mean is if it has no impact whatsover they wouldn't have done it. They know the hardware by heart and assume that it would benefit the system in X or Y manner.

Sarobi3933d ago

Well of course it has an impact, but nothing more than a miniscule one. The idea here is they pushed it a little more simply because they can. If the glass isn't entirely full, why not fill it?

green3933d ago

"Not only do you know nothing but on top of that the closest you have got to a next gen console is a Youtube video"

Great!! you have made me spill my coffee at work. That was damn funny.

sync903933d ago

Isn't that as close to a next gen system as any of us have been?

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 3933d ago
mewhy323933d ago

I don't think it will make a difference either but they have to put out this kind of information because of tall the negative press they're getting regarding the inferior hardware specs of the xbone. Now they will push that they're using a higher clocked GPU than the PS4 and leave out the parts of the 1.8 tflops, ROPs, and ALUs. I'm sure they also will not mention the DDR3 ram vs the GDDR5 RAM issues either LOL. Man micro$oft is desperate.

n4rc3933d ago

You are beginning to annoy me..

Keep your fanboy bs to yourself.. And stop trolling every single Xbox thread.

Funny tho.. When people question the latency of gddr5, cerny says it'll be fine.. Well thank god we don't need proof of anything as long as Sony does it..

And show me where tflops make better looking games.. A Nissan maxima has like 300 HP yet will get smoked by a 200hp Toyota.. How the hell is that possible?!?!

Unless specs are only part of the story.. Its a straw grasped at by a desperate fanboy..

Electric-flamingo3933d ago

Inferior?? Have you been reading any articles , or listing to any other developers stating their are practically no difference, if their are any, they are beyond subtle.

Ezz20133933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

@electric-flamingo

lol so you want to trust PR from 3rd party devs who want to sell their games on every console

and ignore the offical specs that indeed show
ps4 have 50% better GPU and better/faster ram
which mean the better hardware and not by small amount ?!

god you guys want to believe any thing to sleep better lol

voodoogts3933d ago

On Feb 2013 Sony sold two of there buildings for 1.2 billion dollars and laid off thousands of employees in order for the business to stay afloat.  They must be doing something right.

Corpser3933d ago

Why ae people still throwing that 50% number around, it's now 33%

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3933d ago
Prcko3933d ago

new driver also,great news

Tctczach3933d ago

Maybe they are trying to improve the machine... everything does not have to be an "answer" to Sony

Prcko3933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

i think they following sony,they wanna fix everything what people don't like,but i think it's kinda 2 late for that...

IcicleTrepan3933d ago

So if they want to fix things that people are complaining about, isn't that called listening to your customers and not 'following Sony'?

SuperLupe3933d ago

@Prcko

Sony making esay hardware to program for rather than an overcomplicated pain in the a$$ = following MS with the 360

Sony including cross game chat = followig the 360

Sony coming out with a cheaper console rather than asking people to get two jobs = following the 360

Sony aiming for simultanious wordlwide release = just like the 360

Sony making you pay to play online = just like the 360 :)

I think they're following MS.

AlexanderNevermind3933d ago

I think playing Catch Up to Sony may be the better answer. Stop gap measures because they can see that gamers are tilting toward PS4 Next Gen.

IGW_Fobia3933d ago

I hate to have to jump on this argument...but oh well.

@SuperLupe - 5.1.2

Your logic is sound, but then isn't Microsoft also copying off of Sony?

Microsoft is coming out with the most expensive system = just like the PS3.

Microsoft thinking they are the king of the mountain and can't lose their foothold in the home console industry = just like Sony with the PS3.

Microsoft is toting a bunch of exclusives = Just like...well all of Sony's system, including the PS4.

Microsoft moving towards more indie-friendly system = just like the PS4

Stop trying to kid yourself that one of the companies is trying to follow the other. Each one is doing things that the other has done previously.

British_Knight3933d ago

If Microsoft was following Sony, Kinect 2.0 wouldn't be including with every XB1, XB1 wouldn't have HDMI-in, windows 8 apps wouldn't be available, the price wouldn't be $499, there wouldn't be original television programming a la Netflix, there also wouldn't be $400m partnership with the NFL (which has been grossly overlooked), and more. Should I continue?

No_Limit3933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

Agreed British Knight,

The only thing similar is the system architecture and specs of the systems but Sony has a long way to go before they can dream of getting anywhere close 300,000 servers and a seamless online experience like Live on PSN, and an cross-platform ecosystem implementation like Windows 8. In the end, MS is a software company and software experience goes a long way to provide a stable service to your platform. Just look at the PSN hacked in 2011, took Sony almost a month to get the system up and running and their early MP4/Atrac music service for their players to compete with Apple were a disaster.

SniperControl3933d ago

@SuperLupe

So deluded. Innovation my ass!

Wireless WI-FI - Sony first
HDMI - Sony first
Onboard HDD - Sony first
Blu-ray - Sony first(MS tried HD-DVD failed)
Media Centre - Sony first(i have been watching movies & T.V(via disc/streaming & Play TV), listening to music on my PS3 for 7 years)
Eye Toy, PS Eye - Sony First

The fact that MS have 180'd everything they wanted for the X1, all i can see is a console similar to PS4.

The fact that all of the above have been around on PC for 15 years plus.

YNWA963933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

Sniper, when did Sony have HDMI in? And yes you are right about the onboard HDD, which you could buy to plug into the PS 2, i remember that, it was onboard the case you plugged in.... Which was in response to the original Xbox.... Wireless, Wii beat you there.... Blu Ray.. Was new.... Eye toy, keep it...

Edit: not going to argue, though now I do remember maybe PS2 had a bundle with HDD, maybe, but sold terribly, Sony consoles always sold great, never accessories. I know this because I owned PS and MS since PS1, but because I like both, and not a Sony Fanboy, I only get a few bubbles....

SniperControl3933d ago (Edited 3933d ago )

@Geman0174

The list was a comparison between PS & Xbox in response to Superlupe.

I never mentioned HDMI in, I just mentioned HDMI, which PS3 was the first.

The PS2 HDD released in japan during 2001, around the same time as Xbox. Not gonna quibble about that one though.

You will also find the PS3 was released a week before Wii came out. lol

PS4 day 1, however i do intend to get a X1, maybe next Christmas when the price drops alot.

YNWA963933d ago

Yeah, the wireless thing, knew it was close. I remember going to EB Games on a Sunday morning to get a game, and seeing all these people buying the Wii, thinking, people really buying this thing?? How wrong was everyone....

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 3933d ago
Buzz7S3933d ago

Haven't you been visiting N4G since E3? Anything and EVERYTHING Microsoft announce, it is because of Sony. Yep, Microsoft had no intention whatsoever to launch the console the way they wanted it. It's all because of Sony and all of the manipulated polls and botted YouTube dislikes.

Codey473933d ago

Tbh I think it displays how much Microsoft is out of touch with their consumers.

They've backtracked on so many subjects since their official announcement and more recently the E3 Expo.

Whereas Sony have seem to be ticking most boxes with their consumers and developers, since their announcement in February.

GraveLord3933d ago

Are they trying to improve their machine? Of course. Why? Because of the PS4.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3933d ago
Show all comments (337)
120°

Xbox, do you even have a plan anymore?

TSA asks what is the future for Xbox.

Read Full Story >>
thesixthaxis.com
Chocoburger2h ago

They clearly never did, hence why they spent so many BILLIONS on other publishers as a last resort.

anast2h ago

They have a plan. It's to move everything toward streaming and mobile. This is just the next step.

Cacabunga1h ago(Edited 1h ago)

With half of the money they spent, they could have been on the very top and the gaming industry would be way bigger than it is.. encourage developers, indies, make them grow trust them and they will deliver.

Tody_za36m ago(Edited 36m ago)

What are you talking about Cacabunga? The Xbox faithful insisted that Microsoft has infinite money, and after Activision they should buy Square Enix and Capcom before Sony does. There was no chance ever that Microsoft would do this. They would use their infinite millions and Bitcoins to invest in 50 new IP and beat everyone.

andy851h ago

To ruin great studios it's looking like

Skuletor1h ago

Sure, a plan to be a more hated game company than EA. Ubisoft were recently giving them a run for their money but I think Xbox have really knocked it out the park with their latest stunt.

neutralgamer19921h ago

Absolutely not, their whole plan is at odd with what MS wants

Phil wants GP to become big
MS wants to sell games and make billions

GP can’t be sustained with AAA games which take 3-5 years and 7 figure budgets. Only go put those games on GP day one. Why do you think games are coming out on other platforms?

People want a change and want Phil gone without realizing if someone new comes along they may want to change everything again so we just keep going in circles. Phil has to realize that and give clear message on the direction of Xbox

Show all comments (13)
300°

Brad Hilderbrand explains the reason behind the recent Xbox studio closures

There are two reasons why all those Bethesda studios closed, and neither of them have anything to do with Bethesda (directly)...

Game Pass and Activision.

Read Full Story >>
linkedin.com
Christopher6h ago(Edited 6h ago)

The guy confirming what we've all (well, most of us) been saying since the latest purchase.

crazyCoconuts3h ago

Remember the relatively common counter that went something like "I'm sure you arm-chair CEOs know better how to run a company than the biggest company in the world"?

I mean - there's a lot to running a company for sure, but on this topic it's hard to understand how Phil and team didn't see this coming.

Tody_za3h ago(Edited 3h ago)

Phil and team knew it was coming and planned for it. It's not even a conspiracy, it's simply the business of cutting costs and superfluous studios after a major acquisition. They don't give a damn about Tango Gameworks or other small creative studios that won't recoup their losses. They don't care about investing in this industry. They have no interest in risky and expensive new IP. They are only interested in profiting off ownership of Bethesda IP, Call of Duty and Candy Crush.

I guarantee you that not one single game under their banner will improve or become bigger and better.

Welcome to the Xbox family, what a pathetic joke.

Anyone who continues to support this, enjoy your future, because this is it. Ninja Theory is next, and Perfect Dark after that.

Christopher1h ago

Especially not with the evidence of tons of existing movie streaming subs out there and how they fail to make a profit with over 100m users each quarter.

Lightning7734m ago

Apparently they're debating if they wanna put the new Cod on Gamepass or not.

Either grow GP with Cod or don't put it on GP and grow the revenue the traditional way while GP will suffer.

The mess that MS puts themselves in.

XiNatsuDragnel5h ago

I'm not surprised Microsoft guys are crock nuff said

isarai5h ago(Edited 5h ago)

Honestly i think Bethesda needs to buy themselves out of zenimax/MSs hands and do their own thing, i honestly think that would fix a lot of issues and save them from a potential closure.

Zeref5h ago

There's a reason they sold in the first place. And Bethesda is not closing anytime soon lol. As much as I hate the studio closures. They were all small studios 2 of them were mobile studios.

I think these are growing pains and Xbox will get back on track. But they're not getting any more passes.

jwillj2k43h ago(Edited 3h ago)

I’d like to see your reaction to being growing pained out of your job after the launch of a successful product.

Mr_cheese1h ago

Excuses, Excuses, excuses.

If growing pains have been happening for the best part of a decade, they're not growth.

XiNatsuDragnel1h ago

Zeref nii San
I'm sorry but xbox has been rightfully bashed due to constant incompetence

romulus231h ago

Yet you literally just gave them a pass, being "small studios" or "mobile studios" is irrelevant. There's no excsue for closing Tango, none. They praise the game, they PR talk about it's the kind of game the company needs and yet they shutter the developer, that's foul on every level.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1h ago
Tacoboto1h ago

Bethesda greenlit Redfall, launched Fallout 76 in the condition it was in (and the fiasco with the bonus bag), and spent all that time on Starfield finishing it as it was with that same engine. Wolfenstein Youngblood exists because of them too, not Microsoft.

Are you *sure* leaving them alone would actually result in a better outcome, not just a different one?

isarai26m ago(Edited 25m ago)

A lot of this excessive monetization, and GAAS crap started when Zenimax decided to start looking for a buyer. Not a coincidence that there was a sudden shift in prioritizing profits above quality or even coherence at the same time. They wanted big numbers to attract buyers, now that they've been bought, MS wants exactly what they were baited with.

However even under Zenimax they made enough to self publish sometimes, so i would imagine it's not too far fetched that they could pay their way into independence if they REALLY wanted to.

Also even people at Bethesda and Arkane were hoping MS would cancel the game as again, they were forced to make something they didn't want to make.

Einhander19725h ago

Ah, we can see how the Microsoft media machine works.

Every article I read now is some kind of attempt to shift the blame off Microsoft and paint them as the victims or convince people that Microsoft mistakes were just some kind unforeseeable unfortunate twist of fate.

The shills are out in full force today.

Christopher5h ago

This is not at all what this article is saying. It's saying that honest and useful studios are getting closed because of big money deals elsewhere and the faults with game pass as a model.

Einhander19725h ago

I understand what the article is about.

It's a deflection, it's a putting the cart before the horse article.

Let me tell you how this problem wouldn't have existed in the first place.

Microsoft not creating a service funded by subsidization and having the foresight to see that it would disrupt consumer spending habit to begin with. Then not buying Bethesda and undertaking costs for a service that was already failing to pay for itself because their own expectations of Game Pass having "billions" of subscribers was unobtainable from the very start.

And if you don't think that was the case go back to the article on the day Game Pass launched and read the comments from people from day one who foresaw that this would be an unsustainable model and would cause people to stop spending in the same way.

Christopher4h ago

***Microsoft not creating a service funded by subsidization and having the foresight to see that it would disrupt consumer spending habit to begin with.***

This article literally supports this opinion. He's not praising Game Pass or the ABK purchase.

Einhander19724h ago(Edited 4h ago)

This is an explanation of why it failed, there is zero blame put onto Microsoft itself.

Yes, it talks about what went wrong, but it doesn't say Microsoft shouldn't have done it. It doesn't say Phil should have foreseen this outcome and stopped before it got to this point.

"convince people that Microsoft mistakes were just some kind unforeseeable unfortunate twist of fate"

Christopher4h ago(Edited 4h ago)

***but you're seeing the impact; all those smaller studios making really interesting games are going to fall away, simply because as good as games like Hi-Fi Rush are, they're never going to make enough money to make up that $70B hole that Xbox now has to dig itself out of.***

If you see that as support or you explicitly just want people to end their argument with "and, in conclusion, Microsoft bad" then that's on you. This article does not support Microsoft's choices and highlights the faults. Nothing it says is good about these choices, even saying that putting CoD on Game Pass would be money losing for them because they've set themselves up for failure (and not putting it on there will drop subscriber numbers like crazy, meaning their Game Pass plans were shit to begin with).

No matter how you look at it, they're saying Microsoft made decisions that hurt the bottom line, force closures, and leave Game Pass in a situation where they lose no matter what they do. It's all negative.

Einhander19724h ago

Christopher, if Microsoft hadn't made Game Pass and bought a bunch of publishers would this article even need to exist?

Christopher3h ago

***Christopher, if Microsoft hadn't made Game Pass and bought a bunch of publishers would this article even need to exist? ***

How is this an argument to anything being discussed? This is just as valuable of an argument as "if fish had stayed in deeper waters, they wouldn't have evolved to tetrapods, adapted to shallow water and then to land, and we wouldn't even exist and have to worry about game pass at all."

You're bringing nothing to this argument and then complaining that other people are highlighting the issues with Game Pass and spending tens of billions on studios because what we should be discussing is what it would be like if Microsoft hadn't done any of that.

Well, they did do it. Now pull up your big boy pants and join in on the discussion of what that has meant for the industry since then and, especially right now, how that is affecting the industry and game studios under Microsoft. None of us are able to go back in time and change what was done.

Einhander19723h ago(Edited 3h ago)

Christopher, this isn't me not understanding what the article is about, it's you not understanding what I am saying.

If you want me to make excuses for Microsoft's bad decisions you're not going to get that or just agree with people who are doing that, it's not going to happen, nor are you going to convert me into thinking xbox "needs to exist".

Ya know what, maybe "Microsoft bad".... maybe their decisions ARE having a negative effect on the industry, and instead of deflecting from their actual actions and making excuses for them we stand up and say "no" "Microsoft is hurting the industry"

And maybe, just maybe, it was so obvious that this was going to be the outcome that even nobodies in comment sections on websites were able to easily predict this outcome, yet Microsoft did it anyway then kept doing and even when it became undeniable that it was having a negative impact on their business and and the industry itself, then they knowingly made even bigger purchases and caused more problems.

And the one thing you're right about is that I can't go back in time, but I CAN speak up and try to keep it from happening again...

Maybe if the people who were speaking up 7 years ago were listened too we wouldn't be having this discussion and Tango and Arkane would still be in business along with all the other people who have lost their jobs due to Microsoft's actions.

Do you like analogies?

What you're saying is like an alcoholic crashing their car then trying to explain it by saying it was caused by everything except the fact that they were dunk because they are an alcoholic and don't want to stop drinking.

TiredGamer3h ago

The article is essentially focusing the blame on MS. GamePass was a hail mary play to change the gaming paradigm and carve out a special niche for themselves, emulating the Netflix model, that might have led to MS becoming the leader in the long-term. Unfortunately, the subscriber growth isn't really there, and the model isn't really built to weather that lack of revenue. MS is now in a restructure mindset to figure out how they balance out their model in a way that can still make them money.

've always believed that GamePass was a high risk shot that had a very low chance of long-term success. But the problem with it, whether it succeeded or not, is that it accelerated the proverbial "race to zero" consumer expectation that ran its course in the mobile gaming industry in the late 2000s. When consumers start thinking that games should be "cheap" (as in through a $10/month all-you-can-eat subscription model), it turns the narrative against games being priced at realistic levels. So with the GamePass failure, they've not only sabotaged their market share, but they've impacted the entire industry and devalued the cost of game development to the average consumer. So now it's harder to develop mega-big budget games and to earn the revenue needed to pay for them.

XiNatsuDragnel1h ago

Again terrible excuses in the 1st place

Christopher2h ago

***If you want me to make excuses for Microsoft's bad decisions you're not going to get that or just agree with people who are doing that, it's not going to happen, nor are you going to convert me into thinking xbox "needs to exist". ***

No one is asking you to make excuses for Microsoft's bad decisions nor is anyone asking you to convert to anything.

***Ya know what, maybe "Microsoft bad".... maybe their decisions ARE having a negative effect on the industry, and instead of deflecting from their actual actions and making excuses for them we stand up and say "no" "Microsoft is hurting the industry" ***

Literally no one here is doing this. They're literally discussing how Microsoft's decisions have hurt the industry. Except you. You're rambling about why people aren't complaining about Microsoft when people are in fact complaining about Microsoft.

*** And the one thing you're right about is that I can't go back in time, but I CAN speak up and try to keep it from happening again... ***

Then perhaps actually add something to the conversation other than calling people shills when people are complaining about the decisions and repercussions of Microsoft's actions.

Tacoboto1h ago

Christopher, you're fighting a block wall here - Ein will continue twisting and contorting any remark to fit his self-created narrative.

Einhander19721h ago(Edited 1h ago)

"Then perhaps actually add something to the conversation other than calling people shills when people are complaining about the decisions and repercussions of Microsoft's actions."

Cristopher, in no way is the author of this article complaining, they are explaining what happened it's literally the title. They never once say that Microsoft shouldn't have bought Zenimax or Activision or that Game Pass was a bad idea to begin with. They think the problem with Game Pass is that it didn't grow fast enough, not that it was a bad idea from the get go.

BTW this is his job title.

"Public Relations and Communications Leader"

What do you think a Public Relations and Communications Leader does to make money?

Edit: I have read a dozen of these articles that just started coming out in the last 24 hours that are trying to shift the conversation away from blaming Microsoft, the shift here and in several other articles is trying to say it just didn't gain subscribers fast enough, not that it was a bad idea to begin with that was doomed to fail or placing the blame on anyone.

It was all just an unforeseeable outcome, no one should be held responsible it was just a billion dollar oopsie that's costing thousands of people their jobs and has caused a downturn in the entire industries sustainability.

Oopsie!

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 1h ago
MrDead3h ago

It's greed. MS has the IP's it wants now it's dumping the studios that it's raided, MS will still make money from Tango's games unlike the people that made them. If anyone follows MS outside of gaming you'll see this is what they do, buy companies take what they want consolidate some of the workforce and shut them down. I don't know why people are acting so surprised when this is Microsoft being Microsoft.

MS is a three trillion dollar company, if it enters a market it has no need to compete, they take what they want and with the financial influence it can bypass laws that are meant to protect the consumer and the workforce. Just look at how they are cornering the AI market right now with buyups and investments.

Show all comments (33)
300°

Microsoft Is Finally Ending Its Focus On Big Budget Gaming Nonsense

Back when the Xbox 360 launched, Microsoft pushed the big budget game as a differentiator. Following all the recent layoffs, it’s clear this strategy has run its course.

Einhander19726h ago(Edited 6h ago)

The Microsoft shill take on the Microsoft causing the death of big budget gaming...

The whole driving force for growth in gaming both technologically, creatively and financially was all nonsense, and it was definitely not because Microsoft ran the industry into the ground with obviously bad decisions and creating an unprofitable business model that massively disrupted consumer spending habits. /s

RpgSama5h ago

First, F**** Forbes and their shill take, I hope the money cleared by now.

Second, Which big budget games I might ask? Microsoft has been in a rut for like a decade now, with no big publisher and developers puechases they would have not released anything in the last 5 years but the new Halo and Forza.

Eonjay2h ago

Fortunately for us, since we know this message is basically coming from Microsoft, we can read into their motives. Why are they trying to turn people against big budget games and who would it help.... hmmm.

neutralgamer19921h ago

GP is like any content service it needs new content. AAA games take 100 plus million (low end estimates since most AAA games take double that) and it 4-5 years to develop. That’s why there were 2 god of war games instead of 3 because Cory felt like it would take too long

I am not defending MS. That’s just the reality when you put all your eggs in one basket (gamepass) and now they need content. Sadly that’s what we all said would happen and is happening. GP will be a service for AA games with 1-2 AAA games on yearly basis. And I am all for AA games because to me that’s where developers can take chances on smaller budgets but MS has mismanaged this whole situation from the beginning. Their messaging needs to be clear and it’s not

They own so many studios and IP’s they just need to get everyone on schedule so that there are games releasing every few months on GP. But I don’t even think Phil knows what he wants. It seems his goals change constantly

Game pass is not a sustainable and take two ceo was right when he said that it doesn’t make any business sense to release huge AAA games day one on GP. Just like call of duty shouldn’t be on GP because why give up on 15-20 million sales

S2Killinit1h ago(Edited 1h ago)

Right on.

Hahaha MS has ended “focus” on games? Lol when? 3 generations ago maybe?

Hofstaderman6h ago

Ah Forbes. One of the prominent MS mouthpieces....

Luc206h ago

Microsoft is finally... ahhh I've never heard this one before!

Petebloodyonion6h ago

LOL, this article is a big pile of dog crap...
Spencer has been constantly telling ppl that NO they would not go the route of having games like TLOU, Uncharted, etc because Playstation exists and prefers to focus on a diverse portfolio.

How many years have we seen Xbox as no game and we don't want small games like ORI, Pentiment, Grounded, etc.?

That's the real tragedy and why lots of gamers are mad at MS right now
because they have been championing smaller titles and yet fired the ppl delivering exactly what they were proning about.

So no the only nonsense is that MS seems now to be going BACK to AAA popular titles..sorry, I meant refocusing effort on core established IP where broken GAAS might be rewarded versus praised and rewarded work.

Einhander19725h ago(Edited 5h ago)

https://media1.tenor.com/m/...

You read an article cheerleading the end of big budget games and all the other articles about problems and this is what you have to say? That's what you think "the real tragedy" is?

I thought that xbox fans might finally "get it", but no, it seems they don't even understand what is happening and what is at stake.

Petebloodyonion3h ago

Please tell me what's happening and what is at stake

Since it's not big companies closing small studios, killing innovation while refocusing assets on big ongoing projects and core IP?

Let's See MS Close Tango Studio mentions that they are too thin on key project
Sony Close London Studio and make massive cuts in Firespite will reallocate resources to core project
EA will focus on Core project
Square will focus on big established IP
.....
.....

crazyCoconuts6h ago

Hurray! No more big gam.... wait... what??

Show all comments (37)