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Does Xbox One have Secret Sauce in it? DirectX 12 a Game Changer?

Microsoft has announced that for the first time in five years, a new DirectX 12 is about to be unveiled at GDC on March 20th 2014. It's been suggested that the Xbox One would not work with DirectX12 because it would require a hardware upgrade since the XB1 is running DirectX 11. But new developments suggest that the Xbox One may in fact be using DirectX 12 in some fashion.

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lifeisgamesok3693d ago (Edited 3693d ago )

To my knowledge Microsoft has never came out and stated the specs of its gpu

It was only rumored to be the equivalent of a 7000 series

MS hasn't elaborated on the 15 co-processors enough though we know what they are 9 audio, encode and decode compressors 4 move engines that can shoot bits of data at a high speed

Kingthrash3603693d ago (Edited 3693d ago )

smh....man see this is why sony fanboys talk about the res differance...things like this.
x1 and ps4 have both launched, have both been taken apart we know what hardware is in there and we know who has the most power of the 2.
no, this comment isnt a who's the "BEST" comment...but really guys wth is dx gunna do for the x1.
i'm not saying it wont do anything but dx12 is more of a pc thing no? and its software, so what will it do. make things easier? that coo but when on one hand you say "res dosent matter" then get all hyped about a "secret sauce".like its supposed to change what the x1 is made out of, of like its gunna "unlock" some secret area in the console to make it up to its competitors standard.
how's that good business? why release a weaker console, then let it become stronger later with a secret sauce? yeah they rushed it, we knew that back in june but you cant change the hardware...we all know that esram bottleneck is whats holding x1 back and dx12 (sadly) wont change that.

truth is ms released a weaker console, with a more media aimed goal than gaming. it looks good on paper but when it dosent sale as projected, things start to get overhyped...even the small things like a software update.

pro tip: nothing wrong with a weaker console...my honest opinion...but if your weaker imbrace it and put out some awsometitles like nintendo...
it just goes bad when you say "the x1 is the most powerful console" or announce an announcement and when you announce it you say "we bought gears, and we have unannounced titles in the works"
that kinda pissed me off because i woke up early in the morning to see what it was and it was a longtime (dying...play judment) franchise and "UNANNOUNCED GAMES IN THE WORKS".... they announced unannounced games.....-.- over hypeing the obvious things...
not sating gears is small but nobody thought gears would end up anywhere but on x1...
if you gunna announce something let it be you bought mario or somethin...smh man rant over...mabad guys

Dudebro903693d ago

Direct x is not a "PC thing"

Its called an Xbox...where the x stands for...direct x.

SliceOfTruth8883693d ago

The problem is that anyone who thinks xbone xants handle 1080p is a fool. There is some issue developers are having converting last Gen to next Gen. Once developers fully understand they will push some incredible stuff. Just like ps4 will I mean how ignorant can anyone be thinking Xbox or ps4 is even close to showing their power

cozomel3693d ago (Edited 3693d ago )

Man, you fanboys never learn. Always getting your hopes up just to be let down, i guess y'all are used to being let down by MS and the X1. DX is just a generic API and what would be preferred is a API built specifically for the system, not a broad generic API like DX. Its been a known fact in the PC world that DX loses you alot of graphics cards performance. Hence why AMD made Mantle and Valve SteamOS and NV CUDA. Tell me, the X1 uses DX11 right now and how impressive has that been so far? The Ps4 and X1 are almost the same exact system except for some difference, that are all where it matters the most, in the GPU and bandwidth department

Xb1: 1.18TF (12 CUs) for games
Xb1: 768 Shaders
Xb1: 48 Texture units
Xb1: 16 ROPS
Xb1: 2 ACE/16 queues
Xb1: 13.65GPixels/s
Xb1: 40.90GTexels/s

PS4: 1.84TF GPU (18 CUs) for games +56% more
PS4: 1152 Shaders +50.5%
PS4: 72 Texture units +50%
PS4: 32 ROPS + 100%
PS4: 8 ACE/64 queues 400%
PS4: 25.60GPixels/s +88%
PS4: 57.60GTexels/s +40%

Jumper093693d ago (Edited 3693d ago )

RAM, ESRAM and the GPU is holding the Xbone back.

@SliceOfTruth888
There is nothing to understand. The Console is weaker, period.
You Xbone Fans have to accept that already. it wont get better later down the Generation

nightsurge3692d ago

@cozomel

The Xbox One gpu reserved for games is now 1.29 teraflops. 8% was freed up recently in an update. Just making sure you had all your facts straight since it seemed like you were just copy/pasting old specs.

xActionBasturdx3692d ago

Why do people constantly copy and paste specs without the slightest idea what they mean...i own a ps4 but everytime i see someone copy and paste specs i cringe a little everytime

GameNameFame3692d ago (Edited 3692d ago )

Wow. Don't fanboys understand DirecX is just is just drivers?

I mean really every new processing feature on dx12 will be on OpenGL and PS4.

Dx11 stuff are already on opengl and people say it is even more powerful due to efficiency.

Lolol. It is just pure desperation of wanting their hardware be stronger.

TheGreatAndPowerful3692d ago (Edited 3692d ago )

"Unless MS planned ahead and got DX12 functionality in the GPU of the XB1, that'd mean that DX12 would purely be a software upgrade and wouldn't necessitate new hardware.
Either that or it's a half-truth and the XB1 will only support certain parts of DX12 like how Windows 7 supports about half the new features in DX11.2"
http://www.reddit.com/r/Gam...

kopicha3692d ago

xbots are really funny. when games announced running lower res or fps they say it dont matter. its the games that matter. and even making claims of 720 actually look better than 1080. and all those res n fps dont matter because its the game that matters. now in this article the bots are here to rejoice over the "secret sauce" that all just assume it is going to change anything. seriously dont be such a loser. keep to your words and stay in your stance. you dont even know what you actually want. it seems like xbots and m$ are just a bunch of 180s

MysticStrummer3692d ago

(Before PS4 and XB1 are revealed)

XB fan - "Sony can't afford to make a more powerful console than MS"

(PS4 and XB1 are revealed)

XB fan - "Secret sauce"

(PS4 and XB1 specs are revealed)

XB fan - "Cloud"

(First PS4 and XB1 games are released)

XB fan - "Can't tell the difference"

(DirectX 12 announced for XB1)

XB fan - "Secret sauce"
_______

I sense a pattern...

Unspoken3692d ago (Edited 3692d ago )

The spec war is over. Both consoles are sub par gaming machines and no magic will change that fact.

But what can be done is to improve what is already existing. Microsoft is taking advantage of their PC expertise and improving the console in other ways....how about we overclock? Check. New API for better game engines and improved performance? Check. Consistent updates to the OS and user interface, graphic filters, controller firmware? Checks across the board.

To me it appears as though even with the less powerful console, MS is doing what it can to extract the best performance out of it.

Wizard_King3692d ago

I love this secret sauce BS fro MS so much.

How people actually believe them is what gets me.

So many dumb ignorant people.

snp3692d ago (Edited 3692d ago )

@nightsurge

True, but on the flip side he also didn't 'deduct' anything from either the kinect/non kinect scenario's.

If Kinect is in use, actually take off 10% from the GPU specs, and even when it's not in use 2% needs to be deducted from the XBox1 GPU specs - and consequently be added to the '% margin' on the PS4 side.

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B-radical3693d ago

X1 gpu specs were announced at hotchips. But thats not to say directx 12 wasnt made for x1.

im begining to think x1 was suppose to be released this year. And that it was initially was suppose to be directx 12 but api wasnt ready.

expect to hear talk at gdc about data move engines

Alan_Shore3693d ago (Edited 3693d ago )

Very plausible.....I guess. Maybe directx 12 wasn't ready ps4 was releasing MS felt heat so they released early.

MS must make it clear at the game developers conference if DX12 on xbox one is merely an update or if xbox one was made for DX12

SonofGod3693d ago

Be careful with what you're saying here.. logic will not be tolerated here on N4G.

Sony is god

cozomel3693d ago

^^^

Says the worshipper of all things MS. And funny how a supposed Sony website, wink, wink, has way more agrees for the xbox fanboys comments than the Sony ones. Hmm, what are the Sony fanboys agreeing with this? i dont think so, this place is just as infested and crawling with MS fanboys as it is with Sony ones

lsujester3693d ago

I'm guessing that the X1 is compliant with DX12, but DX12 isn't really loaded with a bunch of new features. I imagine it's mainly reworked to allow developers to have more access to hardware and reduce CPU overhead. MS's press release pretty much says that.

If I had to guess, I'd say DX12 is going to look a lot like Mantle in what it's trying to do. Find out soon enough.

BX813693d ago

Agreed. That would also explain why some of last gens ui features were missing.

ProjectVulcan3693d ago (Edited 3693d ago )

DirectX 12 may improve some tools for Xbox One. However typical gains in this area are on the level of single digit percentages.

It will not and can't suddenly make the console massively faster.

DirectX 12 may have new hardware requirements. Xbox One is highly unlikely to meet any new hardware requirements as the main APU design was completed (and fixed) well over a year ago.

In that case Xbox One may support just a smaller subset of DirectX 12 features, and only new hardware would support the full set of features.

If DX12 does not require new hardware, then it will clearly be an evolutionary software development not a revolutionary secret sauce.

I must point people to Xbox 360 and DirectX 10.

DirectX 10 launched with Vista, one year after Xbox 360.

What difference did it directly make to Xbox 360?

Pretty much nothing. The reason was because DirectX 10 was much more relevant for PC and it's new features demanded new hardware compliance the old console never had.

So Xbox 360 supported DirectX 9.5 so to speak, more advanced than DX9c and SM3.0, but short of all the vital features DX10 brought to the table in new hardware.

I can't see a reason why this release will be any different. Xbox One may incorporate some features to update it's API and toolset.

As I said the other day however, every console does this. Every console evolves over it's lifespan as the tools and operating system are refined.

StrangerX3692d ago (Edited 3692d ago )

@Isujester,
well its not about the software specific features of the Xbox One but mainly about the hardware specifics to be able, to run these features at optimized drivers potential. that's I'm pretty sure is what the DirectX 12 for Xbox one is mainly about. I'm pretty sure that this system was design to be released this year with all bells and whistles but Sony did pushed their hand. Guess we'll know coming this 20th is about.
@Vulcan project
Now that you mention this, if you think about it, wasn't it strange that microsoft went in a different direction when customizing the Xbox one that even developer and the media cant understand why some things are there and why go all that way and spend all that money when they could just go and do like Sony did by just buying mostly off the shelf parts instead of doing this weird architecture that its hard to understand?!! I don't know, maybe its because it was solely design to be mostly hardware specific to be used with DirectX and like I said earlier Sony pushed their hand into releasing early?!!! Think about it, it makes sense but like I said, we'll find out soon enough. 😊

Kleptic3692d ago

This entire debate is riddled with arguments over definitions...

DirectX IS a PC thing...its a high level API for communication between specific software and all different kinds of hardware...thats why its needed, its the standard with windows that allows certain software to work on a bunch of different computers...

in terms of consoles...it doesn't matter to any degree what you call the API...because it is NOT the same as the PC API for one specific reason...the console always has the same hardware...in this case, there is a much better 'low level' api to begin with...and that is very easy because every xbox one has the exact same parts...

directx 12's major feature is slated to be a 'mantle like' optimization that allows much less of a resource barrier...meaning its hopefully going to be far more efficient...but that is specific to PC...the xbox one already has about as efficient an API as possible...it was developed with AMD and MS specfically for the console...minor improvements may show up here and there, and devs will get more out of it over time...

but...you're kidding yourself if you think DX12 is going to 'add' anything to an xbox one...it doesn't need it to begin with...

DoubleM703692d ago

Agreed. Sony had a 10 month jump on thier drivers. Now XB1 drivers are starting to mature. D12x was always in the equation it wasnt ready.

Ju3692d ago (Edited 3692d ago )

There is one thing in Dx which is long overdue and that is better multi threading support - exactly what Mantle brings to the table. Sure, the XO will benefit from this since it's a highly parallel machine. It won't make anything faster, but it sure will help the console - and PCs with multiple cores. I guess that's really all this is. Fixes, updates, newer multi-threaded API(s) but hardly new (graphics) features. Multithreding is the most important feature; everything else you can do if/when having lowest possible access to HW. But if your drawcalls are queued sequentially you loose quite some efficiency on accessing it. XO does not allow any access to the GPU other than DirectX - there is not other API.

ProjectVulcan3692d ago (Edited 3692d ago )

Stranger X

Microsoft's design is no more custom than Sony's. Their GPU architecture is still based on something that is two years old, with some interesting modifications but not fundamental ones to their functionality.

Anyone would think that DX12 is supposed to unlock this enormous potential not seen under DirectX 11.2.

I hardly think Microsoft launched a machine with a toolset that couldn't access a vast amount of the console's performance. Indeed if that were the case I am pretty sure you would know about it by now because developers, publishers and Microsoft themselves would be hollering about it.

Instead they are cutting their prices and letting their killer title launch with 1408 x 792 resolution....

It's stretching that notion of hidden power to unlock to breaking point, I'm sorry.

This is going to be an updated toolset for the console, nothing more, nothing less. Feel free to hope for some sort of game changing performance hike and incredible power that they have kept in the closet even for their key games.

But I wouldn't hold your breath that's for sure.

It's no surprise we see the performance gap we do between two consoles where one has an obvious hardware advantage. If that gap didn't exist then the more powerful console would be badly underperforming.

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lolCHILLbro3693d ago

Besides Resolution, is there anything else that PS4 far exceeds the Xbox in?

Chevalier3693d ago

Only better 1st party games, 3rd party support, Indie support and Plus has fantastic games, you know reasons to buy a GAME system.

AndrewLB3693d ago

Chevalier- Please stop confusing your hopes and aspirations with the facts. Right now Xbone has a far superior selection of games. Regardless, i'm not buying either console because both are underpowered and i'd rather spend the cash on a second gtx 680 which would result in about 7tflops.

alexkoepp3693d ago Show
OsirisBlack3693d ago

@andrew are people seriously saying there are no games on these systems? I guess indie and F2P games don't count because at the moment I have more games than I can play on PS4 ..... I am however getting pissed at my Wii U as I only play DKCTF now...... and am waiting on something to buy on my XB1..... I was getting Titan Fall on PC but will probably get it on X1 just because of my friends that will be playing on XBL

cozomel3693d ago (Edited 3693d ago )

Yes, it often has better graphical effects too. Rivals has boken DOF and hbao, x1 doesnt (simple blur and ssao). Thief has POM, x1 doesnt. And that a next gen feature. TR has better texture quality and host of other things that are better. AC4 has better AA and the list goes on. But i know it was rhetorical question and a fanboy like you is just going to disagree.

And X1 only has 2 more exclusives than PS4 right now. Two, a whole freaking whopping two!!! Yet the PS4 has more games (and better) than the X1. X1 fanboys are so delusional its sad.

BOLO3693d ago (Edited 3693d ago )

You're right...How is it possible to beat secret sauce, overcasted weather, and reversed DRM policies...PS4 doomed confirmed! /s...DAT SAUCE! http://i.imgur.com/XK7wSYU....

Gamingskills3692d ago

@ cozomel
Don't be a hypocrite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pot calling the kettle black!!!!!!
You are a FANBOY!!!

solar3692d ago

yes, the power cord wont set your house on fire

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SonofGod3693d ago

Uh oh, this article is bait for the drones. It's prety quiet now but soon they'll be all over this.

Watch out especially for vulcanproject and his long BS speech.

They're coming..

http://static.comicvine.com...

SniperControl3693d ago

" Watch out especially for vulcanproject and his long BS speech."

Lol, looks who's talking, you would rather listen to that moron misterx spout his BS and then preach it here, but when someone with some technical knowhow states facts, it's BS. Lol

cozomel3693d ago (Edited 3693d ago )

Just look at this troll baiting people. Why do the mods let him be? why isnt this guy getting flagged for trolling? its all he does.

And thank you sniper, well said, +bubble for you and -bubble for trolling for the clown above you.

mark3214uk3692d ago

Phil spencer: How can we sell more xbones numbers are low?

lets throw out another secret source rumour the fanboys will fuel it,then we will just let them down there used to it by now :p

+10000 x1 sold for ms

also lets pump another 1mil into hyping titanfall,we will sell loads of x1s before they figure out the game sucks

starchild3692d ago

I agree that the fanboys can be pretty stupid, but vulcanproject knows what he is talking about.

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Kayant3693d ago (Edited 3693d ago )

Nope. They said it themselves it was based on the sea island series just like the PS4's.

"Just like our friends we're based on the Sea Islands family. We've made quite a number of changes in different parts of the areas. The biggest thing in terms of the number of compute units, that's been something that's been very easy to focus on. It's like, hey, let's count up the number of CUs, count up the gigaflops and declare the winner based on that."

http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...

Using Panello's statements on gaf as evidence is laughable at best because he is the same person that went on to make these statements as well ->
http://www.neogaf.com/forum...
http://www.neogaf.com/forum...
Where he talked about things like the CPU specs even though he said it himself that not everything is known about the systems but he is now making claims with leaked specs? And now come launch with benchmarks and a word from a dev we know that this is not the case and PS4 has more performance for gaming.

Also this --> http://www.neogaf.com/forum...

" If it comes out after we launch that the difference between 3rd party games is maybe single-digit FPS between the two platforms, will I get an apology or concession?" - Oh look launch came and has passed and not only is this true in that we have seen up to a 20fps average delta in the case of TR we also have resolution, AA and assets differences in some cases. So why hasn't he gone back to gaf and apologized as he was wrong?

Also remember when asked about the TR/multi-plat differences he didn't even talk about the differences and straight away went to exclusives (Ryse) as show of power/defense even though exclusives are always to one to push platforms anyway. http://n4g.com/news/1443424...

Yh the performance improvements DX12 could bring for XB1 are yet to be seen. But it's like people are forgetting that PS4's GPU is stronger by quite a margin so how they can tweak/improve their tools to such a degree to match/suppress stronger hardware is to be seen. Reading how Prt/megatextures work doesn't sound like how people are making out it to be. Read this ---> http://www.anandtech.com/sh... http://diaryofagraphicsprog...

DX12 will obviously help the XB1 but to the degree some people are thinking based on mistermedia's blog is hyperbolic. Do people really believe there is hidden hardware such as *128 MB Esram*, *ARM core + GPU cores* with performance equivalent to 10-12TF* depending on the task in a console for $500/£400.

Ravenor3692d ago

I agree 100% DX12 on XB1 will not be a fully loaded version of DX12, it's likely only a subset of features will be available to the hardware. I also agree 1000% that there is no secret hardware on the Xbox One, consumer electronics don't work that way.

But seriously, every game I've played on my Xbox One has been perfectly fine. Even Tomb Raider, the difference in frame rate isn't important when it swings up and down and is extremely inconsistent on the PS4. I also can't/don't see a difference in texture quality, from where I'm sitting or even on the zoomed in DF images comparing the two.

If you're thrilled with just your PS4 I'm really happy for you, I needed both and personally I'm not crying over the minor differences seen so far. If it gets to the point where XB1 games look like 360 games in comparison to the PS4 version, I'll probably set aside the XB1 for exclusives. But as it stands, it's all about where my friends are. They bought TR for the XB1 so I did too, if they buy Titanfall 2 for the PS4... I hope you get the idea.

Magicite3692d ago

You can't brag about something thats abysmal.

reaperofsouls3692d ago

So the secret source is not longer the power of the cloud but now its DX12? Well is suppose giving false hope to deluded fanboys is better than admitting that the have bought an inferior product at $100 more.

DoubleM703692d ago

I don't see that inferiority you speak of. The features alone is worth that $100 dollars to me and my family. We enjoying those features immensly. Your looking at for just for gaming but I see the whole package.

Major_Glitch3692d ago

What "features" are you referring to specifically? Honest question.

cozomel3692d ago

Oh boy, here we go again with the new secret sauce. When will fanboys learn? I guess never, well prepare to be let down again. Y'all should be use to it by now. The X1 will never be as powerful as the PS4 unless Sony messes up its drivers and SDK and API and devs program to parity. Get out of your hopeful lala land and come back to the real world. Face reality and stop dreaming.

solar3692d ago

the PS4 isnt some dream machine either. just because you are the best turd in the punchbowl doesnt mean you arent in for a fight.

Rhythmattic3692d ago

solar

Punchbowl ? Now this, is Punchbowl......

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

solar3692d ago

both consoles are jokes when it comes to power. Sony and MS sold you all a bill of goods. DX12 wont make the X1 better. no matter what MS says.

ITPython3692d ago

Ugh, great more XB1 secret sauce blather.

Here's the thing... hardware has concrete limits. Software can make hardware work better or worse, but that hardware will always have its limits in what it can and cannot do. No amount of software upgrades will change that fact.

The PS4 has the superior hardware, and the XB1 will never be able to do what the PS4 can if they are both being pushed to their limits. And just like paper always beats rock, the PS4 will always beat the XB1 unless the PS4's hardware isn't being pushed to what it can handle.

That's not to say that the XB1 won't get a small boost to it's efficiency if the software they were using before was less efficient, but it's hardware is the ultimate reason why it will always under-perform compared to the PS4.

Tapewurm3692d ago (Edited 3692d ago )

Answer to the title of this story (and it is a story...as in somebody is tellin' stories.)

The short answer to the title:

How's about no.

Plain and simple fact is that the xbone is the weaker of the two next gen machines...doesn't make it a bad console by any means...it is just weaker in it's spec's and nothing short of a rebuild will change that.... not enough clouds in the world to make that any different.

Kavorklestein3692d ago (Edited 3692d ago )

Why the hell does everyone care if people are excited for DX12? I can admit the xb1 is less powerful as of right now, but why can't you sony assholes let the xbots dream? Let them dream in peace! They don't need to be attacked just because they hope their console improves. If they want it to improve, just take it as a subconscious compliment that they know their system NEEDS to improve, I can't believe some people are bashing XB1 fans for wanting the best for their game console. It's the exact same as a sony fan being excited for ps now, or a nintendo fan being excited for a new zelda, just let them be excited. Stop telling them how excited they should or shouldn't be about it. It's like: "Sony fans, do I have YOUR permission to hope my xb1 gets better? Do I have YOUR permission to be excited for Titanfall? Do I have your permission to let a difference of 30 frames be the only thing that dictates if a game I buy is any fun?

Jeez you sony fans just give no room to breathe... I doubt you guys realize how bully-tastical you are. If you think they are somehow less than you, then why kick them while they're down? Just let them dream, and they may get a better system with dx12, but they may not, so just back up off their shit for once. If they are wrong, then you get to say I told you so, but if you are wrong, then you all just look stupid for trying to predict the future, even tho there is obviously a large amount of R&D going into both systems and we have no perfect layout of what the consoles are capable of.. let's just let time go on, wait for the games we wanna play to finally be released, and stop fighting in the meantime...

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maniacmayhem3693d ago (Edited 3693d ago )

Very interesting and I definitely agree with his assumptions about what Penello said way back when. It looks to be fairly obvious that MS had this planned all along.

It's also pretty obvious that the rumors of MS's premature launch are solid also. Not to mention the other rumor that most of their first party games were not ready for the moved up launch of the X1.

This may lead to seeing MS's actual 1st party titles using DirectX12 and the 2 wave blowing people away as Spencer was telling everyone.

Again, we'll just have to wait and see if all this is true or smoke stacks. Regardless, it's a very exciting time to be a gamer.

Naga3693d ago

That is a really solid assessment. Well put.

Riderz13373693d ago

Direct X 11 was announced June 2008.

It came out in October 2009.

Have fun waiting for those second wave games lol.

FanboyKilla3693d ago

you mean while xbox owners play titanfall and ps4 owners wait and wish for it for 3years?

OpieWinston3693d ago

You do realize that apparently lots of the first pary devs have had the tools for Direct X12 in their hands for a while now.

So the second wave of games will be hitting soon and probably Direct X12 with it.

SniperControl3693d ago

@fanboykilla

Nope, we'll have Second Son to play instead. Lol

zeuanimals3693d ago (Edited 3693d ago )

@FanboyKilla:

Implying that PS4 owners don't own both or even a 360 or PC... I'll be playing the game on my crappy PC that ran the Beta really well. No need to go out spending an extra $500 just to play one game I can already play for just $50. Actually, it would cost me $620 to play it on the X1, $500 for the console and $120 for XBL and Titanfall.

Slothnut3693d ago

All ten to fifteen hours of it haha

DigitalRaptor3692d ago (Edited 3692d ago )

@ FanboyKilla

And after Titanfall... you'll be "awaiting greatness" right? Cause all I see on the immediate horizon is Kinect Sports Rivals in April. Vs the PS4's near future lineup that engulfs it. Yeah...

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No_Limit3693d ago

Good logic Maniacmayhem,

We will have to wait and see but tile resourcing and the full effect of the ESram in conjuction with DX12 should be pretty interesting.

Fantangoooo3692d ago

well said maniacmayham,Its strongly clear they were not ready for the lunch window as much as they claimed.

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Qwagy UK3693d ago

Normally the first batch of new DX cards blow the previous version of DX out of the water In terms of speed i.e. DX11 card running DX10 software, we are not seeing this with the xbone running DX11 software, the xbone is as mentioned only running DirectX 12 in some fashion and not the full blown DX12 as many are hoping for, to see the full extent of what DX12 is all about and what DX12 is able to do you will need a PC with a full blown DX12 card, I personally will be waiting 4 to 6 months after the launch of DX12 cards before I get 2 (sli) the hybrid cards are always better than the standard ones with higher clocks and better cooling.

Fireseed3693d ago

Unless you know... the hardware requirements were a complete paradigm shift... Kinda like the main point he proposed there.

Alan_Shore3693d ago

MS haven't said if it's running DirectX 12 full blown or just in some fashion will have to wait till GDC hopefully they don't duck the question.

Fireseed3693d ago

Agreed. this is something that NO amount of speculation could answer.

lets_go_gunners3693d ago

Why do these stupid articles get through......By tomorrow this will be the hottest topic and it will just filled with Xbot.....sony pony......blah blah..

cyhm31123693d ago

laughing at those stupid idiots believing dx12 will increase the power of xbone, just like those with the cloud or secret sauce, so stupid, lol.

srd44843693d ago

says someone who has NO clue about Directx. Posts like yours calling people stupid bring nothing to the conversation.

AngelicIceDiamond3693d ago

@Cyhm Nobody said anything about "making X1 more powerful" or increasing the power.

But Direct X is suppose to use the full advantage of X1's power.

So I guess you can say its unlocking X1's full potential.

If its as good as they say its gonna be that is.

christocolus3693d ago (Edited 3693d ago )

I agree with you and besides everyone knows the whole xbx architecture(since the original xbx)has always been built with direct x in mind and i believe ms built the xbox one to be future compatible with the latest direct,which in this case is directx12 cos i remember an article which stated that ms had to do alot more work on the amd gpu in the console and for some reason they had to pay a huge amount of money to enable them do that.

in the end i cant say for sure what os going to happen but for now it all seems to point to one fact "that ms has been preparing for the launch of direct x12 on pc and xbx".. even the direct x team have stated we will know more about the xbox one and direct x12 at gdc.

That aside i hope ms shows a demo of an xbx one game running on dx12. Man E3 is going to be huge. The thought of seeing gears,halo and sunset overdrive at the event is driving me crazy.the wait seems so long.

AndrewLB3693d ago

Care to explain how Mantle gave large performance gains to APU based PC's? Last i checked, Directx is also an API and this refresh is supposed to give much better low level access... just like Mantle.

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280°

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

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

purple1014d ago

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

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

Nice one ☝️

Zeref3d ago

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

DarXyde3d ago

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

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

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

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

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

PhillyDonJawn3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

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

Einhander19723d ago

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

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

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

MrBaskerville3d ago

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

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

shinoff21833d ago

Zeref

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

Profchaos3d ago

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

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 3d ago
isarai4d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref3d ago

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

MrNinosan3d ago

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

mkis0073d ago (Edited 3d ago )

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

Einhander19724d ago

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

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

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

4d ago Replies(3)
Einhander19724d ago

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

4d ago
4d ago
Zeref3d ago

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

DarXyde3d ago

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

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

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

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

Einhander19723d ago

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

Einhander19723d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

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

BehindTheRows3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

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

Zeref3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

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

Chevalier3d ago

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

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

Tacoboto3d ago

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

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

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

shinoff21833d ago

Yay steam

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

Tacoboto3d 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 3d ago
Hofstaderman3d ago

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

crazyCoconuts3d ago

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

Xeofate3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

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

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

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

crazyCoconuts2d ago

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

FinalFantasyFanatic3d ago

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

Show all comments (43)
370°

Could Xbox Soon Become The Next Dreamcast?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cacabunga16d ago

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

Crows9016d ago

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

darthv7215d ago

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

Cacabunga15d ago

Darth

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

88315d ago

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

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 15d ago
blacktiger16d ago

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

fr0sty16d ago (Edited 16d ago )

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

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

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

shinoff218316d ago

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

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

Babadook715d ago

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

ifinitygamer15d ago

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

fr0sty15d ago (Edited 15d ago )

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

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

ifinitygamer15d ago

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

fr0sty15d ago

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

15d ago
JBlaze22615d ago

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

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 15d ago
LG_Fox_Brazil16d ago

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

isarai16d ago

Nah, sega actually makes good games

Becuzisaid16d ago

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

Profchaos16d ago

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

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

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

Becuzisaid16d ago

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

FinalFantasyFanatic15d ago

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

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

Profchaos16d ago

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

Show all comments (72)
80°

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

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

Read Full Story >>
trueachievements.com