Project Scorpio: Microsoft’s uninspired power play

The curtain has finally begun to pull back on Project Scorpio, as this week saw its impressive innards revealed. While its power is undoubtedly spectacular, it begs a question of whether or not the superconsole will succeed to catapulting Microsoft to the heights of past relevance. Is Project Scorpio the reboot Xbox desperately needs, or an uninspiring move in a landscape that is in danger of leaving them behind?

[Gazondaily]

"Kickstarting the next generation would have been a gut-punch to a Sony that is content to wait it out, "

Starting a new gen would have been seen as a colossal failure. No way should MS attempted to do that.

Let them grind the hard way

[thebrettpiper]

It could have, but Microsoft kickstarted the 360 gen a year early, and it worked incredibly well. I just think that they need to take a risk, and Scorpio is the opposite of that approach.

[christocolus]

"I just think that they need to take a risk, and Scorpio is the opposite of that approach"

Huh?

[Obscure_Observer]

@thebrettpiper

Please. Microsoft is doing their own thing with Xbox. Why you people feel the need to compare both companies completely different approach?

MS said nobody will be left behind and they are honoring their words.

Sony has won this generation console racing and there's nothing MS can do about it even with the Scorpio. Scorpio can be successful at beating the PS4Pro in sales if MS delivered great exclusives for Xbox One.

Scorpio has the opportunity to be the favorite console for a new generation of hardcore console gamers. And that's absolutely fine on my book

[Goldby]

@Thebretpiper

"It could have, but Microsoft kickstarted the 360 gen a year early, and it worked incredibly well"

Except the RROd on nearly 50% of the consoles, PS3 outselling it world wide on release (one year later)

[bluefox755]

I don't think a new gen would have worked, they don't have enough good will with the community to move onto another console less than 4 years into this gen. Would piss off a lot of current Xbox owners.

[Grown Folks Talk]

Microsoft moved so quickly to the 360 because they started late the previous generation, & knew Sony & Nintendo were about to move on. Plus Nvidia was bleeding them on every unit they made. Had they started with Xbox at the same time as PS2, who knows if their plans keep the same timeframe.

[darthv72]

Well... sega kickstarted the 6th gen with their 4th system (dreamcast) after their 3rd (saturn) didnt do so hot after just 4 years.

MS is making a similar move with their scorpio, which could be viewed as their 4th system because it is so radically different than the xb1 (their 3rd). And the same amount of time (4 years).

The ps4 pro is similar to the supergrafx. A beefed up pc engine but not fully taken advantage of as it was mostly used to improve existing pce games. I guess the supergrafx does have one thing the pro doesnt. Games made exclusively for it.

OG xbox came into the 6th gen late so it was only logical for MS to start the 7th when it did. And (like sega and the genesis...) that early entry paid off with gaining market share only to lose much of that success going into the 8th.

[andrewsquall]

1.15 billion dollars to replace the constantly overheating mess of a console known as the 360. Yeah it worked incredibly well for them getting it out as fast as possible lol.
And the funny thing is, Sony released the PS3 a year later and even later then that in Europe and STILL got their Slim console out before the 360 that needed its Slim version a week after it launched.

In fact, think where Xbox would be today had they released their Slim 360 3 years after launch (2008) AND replaced all the faulty consoles with a Slim console for an extra cost of 100 quid to the user. It probably would have worked out cheaper than what they actually did (that ended up costing WAY more than 1.15 billion by the time it was done).

[thebrettpiper]

@Obscure_Observer

I think it is fair to compare separate approaches in the same industry, and Microsoft's "all in one" play was criticized against Sonys different approach for PS4.

That said, I think Scorpio, and Xbox in general's, all inclusive approach is fantastic. I could only wish Nintendo was as forward thinking about ownership of past content and cohesive ecosystem. Scorpio will be a beloved machine within its niche audience, and I think it is a tech marvel that will undoubtedly make it the best place to play multiplat games.

I just don't know if it is the adrenaline shot Xbox desperately needs right now. E3 will tell all, and there are exciting components, but the overall package isn't going to do much for Xbox's current position. Maybe it is a step toward a cohesive next-gen system that will blow us all away, but I think that Xbox needs to take a bigger risk than catering a powerhouse to their hardcore. Starting the next gen early could be a risk that pays off.

[Captain_Tom]

Just wait for the Shyamalan plot twist at E3: Scorpio is the XBOX Two. A new gen will commence this fall.

[S2Killinit]

Well considering it will at the very least have VR games that original xbox owners cant play, it sort of is a new console already, but in the worst possible way.

[Artemidorus]

Just wait for the moment you didn't pay attention to what Microsoft clearly stated that it's a premium Xbox One.

Let the tears flow I say.

[S2Killinit]

Whether we call it a new generation or not is irelevant. its hard to justify spending another 400-500 on a new console when we all know the PS5 going to come out in 2 years time. By the time scorpio gains any traction , the PS5 is being talked about. Thats why im personaly going to stay where the games are for now, and wait it out with my Pro until PS5.

[darthv72]

Dont forget about a possible ps5 pro. So in that sense... no need to get a ps5 when/if a pro might be coming just a couple years later.

There are some who may just skip the initial release and wait for the upgrade.

[S2Killinit]

@darth
The difference being that the PS5 is 2 years away by the time scorpio arrives, in the meantime the PS4 is pumping out games while the PS5Pro would be at least 3 years after PS5. Not only that but MS will do what they always do and stop supporting their console halfway into the generation to work on their next box.

To me it doesnt justify buying scorpio for another $400-$500 just to wait for it to hit its stride only to councide with the talks of PS5 and eventual release.

[darthv72]

You can wait for the one you want S2, i can do the same. There is no right or wrong... only personal choice.

[Eonjay]

This is correct. Even though they are making this play, they can't and should not leave Xbox One behind. They HAVE TO do right by the people who bought the Xbox One.

[Lenrulesdaworld]

smh at the amount of negative articles for a platform that should be celebrated because of its innovation. unbelievable

[kneon]

What's innovative about it? They've basically made a PS4 Pro with faster CPU/GPU and more RAM.

Was there something new I missed?

[Lennoxb63]

If that's what you think then your knowledge on technology is very limited.

[christocolus]

Why don't you actually put some effort into reading one of the numerous tech articles on Scorpio before making such an ignorant statement

[Lenrulesdaworld]

You haven't gone deep enough bro to understand why this console has similar parts to ps4pro, yet is capable of completing task the ps4pro isn't capable of. Its has nothing to do with up clocked speeds and more ram but the over 60 plus modification they've done to the console. Finding all of the enchanced jaguar cpu's bottle necks for over 60 games types and engines and clearing/removing the bottlenecks found in the pro are now nearly nonexistent on Scorpio. The ability to supersample for down from 4 all 1080p games/tv's with improved textures without a patch from the developer, or upres dynamic resolution to 4k native with out a patch. D3DX12 built into the hardware in both the cpu and gpu cutting 1000 cpu task to 11, gpu 9 & cpu utilization to up to 50% in most cases, higher in others, allowing the console to far exceed the set in the xbox one s and OG xbox one because of it's additional capabilities and power. There's a reason why DF is so shocked and high on the console. It's truly a customized marvel and should be praised for its innovations to the hardware market then bashed for missing a few games in the opening of 2017.

Meanwhile they'll be dropping 7 ip's this summer, fall and holiday. Only a person who doesn't want to investigate the truth because they want to believe there isn't much difference between the consoles would say it's just a upclock and more ram. I'm not calling you out because you genuinely seem to not know but someone xbox haters truly don't care and rather be oblivious then just discover whats makes it special and better than pro tho the pro is amazing as well. Games are games, but its about the release of specs on new hardware currently. Guys are changing the goal post now that the facts are out to games, so when E3 comes and the games are presented. It will be the games aren't good enough or better, etc. Its a no win for Xbox, so haters gonna hate. Better for xbox imo, I like them as a underdog honestly, makes them work harder for their fans.

[tyasia0]

@Lenrulesdaworld

"D3DX12 built into the hardware in both the cpu and gpu cutting 1000 cpu task to 11, gpu 9 & cpu"

Just an FYI that secret sauce was already in the XBone and it didn't help it beat out the PS4 in power.

https://twitter.com/digital...

People are over hyping this thing just like they do with so many other things Xbone.

Is it more powerful than the Pro, yes... Is it a lot more powerful than the Pro, no.

If they were certain it was going to be all 4k all the time they wouldn't have needed to add pixel spreading. And the game they used to demo 4k/60 was a game that ran in 1080p/60 already on XBone.

[Obscure_Observer]

@kneon

Yeah. You missed on the fact the Scorpio will be a foward/backward compatibility machine and all Xbox One and Xbox 360 backward tittles will be running better on the Scorpio ON THE GO WITHOUT ANY PATCHES.

[annoyedgamer]

so basically what the Xbox one is to the 360 and what the PS4 is to the PS3.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

What was innovative about the PS4 vs PS3?

[Xb1ps4]

Yea... apparently you missed a lot, maybe you should take off the PlayStation ear plugs and PlayStation goggles and look into it..

[GUTZnPAPERCUTZ]

NO, the PS4 pro IS the SAME RAM and Memory Bus, SAME CPU, and literally 2 of the SAME GPU's... slightly customized and nothing else... Scorpio is brand new in every way

[andrewsquall]

@tyasia0 Xbox people are just like that. Remember when the Kinect leech was removed from the Xbone system in 2014. Apparently about 10% GPU power was given back to the console, "given back" being the key words.
Instantly every Xboner out there suddenly assumed that the Xbone console now was 10% more powerful than its original specs when the reality is, it was now a bit closer to those original specs that it was being deprived of. Funny quotes like "Wow, now Xbone is pretty much the exact same power as a PS4" were all the norm.

Have a look here at some of the hilarious comments from January 2015. There were still people here saying DX12, cloud AND the removed Kinect puts Xbone at the same level of power as a PS4 and is going to save the Xbone. http://n4g.com/news/1649362...

Even if you had a time machine, you never would have been able to convince these people, over 2 years ago, that it was going to be a complete purchase of a different console that would be their savior.

[Gunstar75]

Yep. You missed quite a bit. Maybe the innovation just fell in your deaf ears.

[sampson3121]

Lenrulesdaworld: "You haven't gone deep enough bro to understand why this console has similar parts to ps4pro, yet is capable of completing task the ps4pro isn't capable of."

there is one task the pro can do that the scorpio won't and that is run great exclusives.
Instead of ms making a new console they should have put all their effort into making games.

buying the scorpio will be like buying a 5k home theater system with no movies to watch

[ninsigma]

Yes it's that stuff but there is some clever stuff going on in there. The software changing how the hardware works is innovative and profiling old game to remove bottlenecks is pretty damn awesome. Credit where credit is due so far.

[S2Killinit]

Its just a more powerful console guys, EVERY console has "innovations" but MS makes them sound like its this revolutionary thing, kind of like the Cloud, DX12, and Milo, remember those?

[Automatic79]

@kneon

Do you read, have you taken the time out to understand how powerful the Scorpio is, or what it is capable of doing. Wow the hate on this site by certain fanboys is apparent with the lack of knowledge.

[Aenea]

"The ability to supersample for down from 4 all 1080p games/tv's with improved textures without a patch from the developer, or upres dynamic resolution to 4k native with out a patch."

You know that is not true tho, right?

How can a game not created for 4k suddenly render at 4k with 'improved textures' that weren't even included?
It can, with a patch.

And it can't dynamically scale non-patched games to 4k if the game uses dynamic resolution either since non-patched games would be maxed at 1080p, DigitalFoundry mentioned all these things, odd that you missed those.

"the over 60 plus modification they've done to the console"

Not the console, the GPU. But I do have to remind you that Sony also added a slew of modifications to the GPU inside the Pro to optimise game engines, even for VR. Though MS have gone a lot further with it by analysing every game engine ever used on the Xbox One.

Also the DX12 in silicon is a very massive optimisation indeed!

Edit: which apparently is already in the Xbox One as well as long as devs use DX12.... Hmm....

[Liqu1d]

Here's the source that proves that dynamic res games won't magically run at 4K without a patch.

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

The fact that some continue to lie and invent secret sauce even after the Digital Foundry analysis is embarrassing.

[meka2611]

Haha, innovations with sony, that's a good one. Sony doesn't innovate they steal. Let's look, dualshock controller, stolen from a pc company that they were in lawsuit for for seven years. Playstation move, copy of the wii, playstation eye, bad copy of the kinect. Sony doesn't innovate shit, they just steal and repackage.

[oSHINSAo]

Have you seen this kind of Videos ??? https://www.youtube.com/wat...
How does the Skyword Sword was render on 1080p? well Emulation, so if a 520p game run at 1080p, a 1080p could jumpt into 4k, only by making edges sharper, another example, 120hz tvs shows more fluid motions of something thats already recorded, Software is the key.

[Moe-Gunz]

@meka26112

So you just going to ignore that the PS2 had something call the EyeToy to fit your narrative? PS Eye isn't a copy of Kinect. I'm with you on the move controller.

[Aenea]

@meka

PS Eye was earlier than Wii and Kinect, PS Moves were already in development for several years when the Wii was announced.

Besides, MS just buys companies to use their tech, they don't innovate themselves either, not even MS DOS was really made by them, Windows was copying MacOS (and GEM), etc., etc.

@oSHINSAo

Sigh, go check up what DigitalFoundry said. Not sure why you don't get why emulation example is not relevant either, ah well....

[Moe-Gunz]

@Prince

Umm you need to reread what I said

[itsmebryan]

It's just Fanboys and haters. It's sad what some games have become.smh

[Eonjay]

False platitudes. Make Microsoft actually earn something. They failed because of comments like yours. You helped kill Xbox so thanks... smh.

[WelkinCole]

From a tech perspective it is celebrated. From a console war perspective we are not allowed to discuss/debate?.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Just make next gen in order to combat Sony.
Because at this point Sony has all the cards.

[KingKionic]

"Project Scorpio has done little to inspire confidence in Xbox’s continued relevance. "

Straight cancer. I read all that got to the end and read that.

Not even worth the clicks. Too much nonsense from these clowns.

[Lenrulesdaworld]

Kionic, bro its so much agenda in these articles its obvious who doesn't what this platform to succeed. Just terrible journalism, probably didn't truly investigate anything, just wrote a hit piece on xbox for clicks sad.

[KingKionic]

Yeah i guess.

They will be the ones to take L`s at E3 with all this nonsense.

Like what do these dudes want phil to do get on his knees ?

LOL

[Aenea]

Get used to it, same damn thing happened with the Pro and PSVR. Don't think these sites have an anti-anything agenda, I feel they have a clickbait agenda....

[christocolus]

Lol. Check out the names of some sites which have recently put up articles downplaying Scoprio.

"Middleofnowheregaming.c om"
"Geekreply.com"
"Beastby.net"

Lmao.. no name websites looking for clicks. Wouldn't be surprised if these sites are run by certain N4g users.

[yeahright2]

coming from a primarily playstation gamer, I completely agree.

[annoyedgamer]

The amount of Xbox hate articles on here right now....

[jaycptza]

Oh grow up, there has been plenty of positive Scopio articles

[ForeverTheGoat]

Lol not really

[shaun mcwayne]

Wow lot of hate articles popping up.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

I'd love to hear what critics think they should have done. Stuck it out with the Xbox One S vs the PS4 and PS4 Pro vs Switch for another 4 to 5 years? Watch sales decline while they are the only manufacturer with no new hardware?

[CP_Company]

invest into games? create games? work with indie developers? try new markets out of usa? don't make retarded mistakes that even 10 years old child did not do? how is that for start? try not to grab cash and run away and just start to care about they product and people?

[343_Guilty_Spark]

They are already doing that. And I don't know why you're even bringing up indies when ID@Xbox is doing better than ever and devs can now self publish.

Plus PS4 is largely winning because it became the default platform for multiplatform games. Look at the monthly sales for software. Nearly all the titles are multiplats. The exclusives thing is great but that's is not what is pushing the majority of PS4 sales. It's just not.

[CP_Company]

what wtf? already doing? are you blind? that is why they are losing,because they are blind the same as you.why do you think PS4 is default platform for multiplatforms? because they are producing amazing exclusives! customer bought system with few exclusives and they are on the hook,after that they are investing in multi games,exclusives not just helps to sell more consoles,but also and to keep consumers in they hands.they give you 10$ free coupon,they give you sales,and so on,and you on the hook in the most of the generation.they give you run for the buck.
xbox doing nothing for gaming a lot of years now.they are floating on the past hype.look at the sony,they are moving forward,not just stagnating in one place and waiting for miracles,it is not the first time when xbox is doing this,and they keep climbing on the same rake.

[Xb1ps4]

Uninspired? Now that we know the specs it makes pro look that much more uninspired..

[DarthSocio]

Article after article of people criticising a console before it's even come out

[shiva1]

Its been this way for lil over 3yrs now.

[Elda]

I'm looking to own another powerhouse console,if MS shows of some new diverse original awesome i.p's releasing in the fall & well into 2018 I will definitely buy.If they don't show anything interesting besides Sea of Thieves,State of Decay,Halo,Forza,Cuphead & Crackdown I'll very well pass,none of those titles interest me at all.

[XXanderXX]

Am looking forward to a catupulti to being too dog and a resurgence of cutthroat mentality of us first and to hell with the competition. That's what I want from Scorpio.

[meka2611]

Wow for saying there isn't much to the scorpio; seems like a lot of sites and people are scared of it by making articles like this. Calm down, PS4 will still be at top. This just gives xbox a leg up.

[XStation4pio_Pro]

Lol so many salty Xbox Scorpio articles. Listen. Exclusives or not, if I can play destiny 2 in true 4k hdr at up to 60 fps on a console, I am absolutely going to do that. I love my PS4 pro so much that the bump in power has given me a taste for more.

[Dark_Knightmare2]

If you think destiny is going to be 60 fps you're in for a disappointment because no way in hell is bungie and activision going to do that. The Scorpio is only going to truly be taken advantage of by ms first party just like the pro and third party is going to keep parity like they have done this whole gen

[XStation4pio_Pro]

1st off I said "up to". Second, resolution will absolutely be the highest on console as will performance and frame rates. Lastly, you haven't been doing your homework because there is no emulation on Scorpio so all games get a performance boost. All games can use available power. You only need patches for 4k/hdr and I'm not at all worried about that getting supported since the PS4 pro already broke into this area. Third party devs would already have the assets regardless so it's little to no extra work and ms is already doing hdr. It's not even hard to to adjust the output in most scalable game engines which are pretty ubiquitous at this point. Multi platform games are just going to perform better on Scorpio period. Love it or hate it.

[BigWan78]

ANOTHER GARBAGE ARTICLE RIDING THE BANDWAGON

[Exvalos]

What Microsoft was able to accomplish is something g amazing, I mean they frigging added dx 12 to the hardware virtually making it so thousands of commands have been reduced to 11, fucking epic. I'M a Sony Gamer and I'm impressed by this beast.

[ninsigma]

Why uninspired?? From the DF video, the hardware seems to be very smart and does more than just brute forcing with higher specs. It's more than I expected from them. Obviously this is all only on paper right now and it does need to be seen in real life but so far it looks good. If they could just get their games Line up sorted out, they could really be on to a winner.

[Donnie81]

Why can't people just let xbox have its moment in the sun? Why hate? Fact is it blows the pro away in every area. Its ok I got a pro and enjoy it but to know something is coming along That's better is exciting. I play games not names and if it is better looks like ill play my multiplats on the Scorpio. But I bet Phil Spencer could beat up yoshida

[yeahright2]

Dude was making some good points but lost me when he started saying things like scorpio is vanilla and boring. Scorpio has generated more buzz for xbox than anything in months upon months

[LordJamar]

so many blind hate anti Microsoft click bait articles poping up

[hiawa23]

MS will continue to do what is best for their company. No matter what happens to the Xbox brand they will be fine, financially.

I am looking forward to the Scorpio. I don't get the backlash. Many have been whining since this gen started about the consoles not being powerful and MS gives us a console that has at minimum 4-5 times the GPU power of the X1 and many are still hatin on them, yet when this gen started all many could talk about were graphics this or that, now their argument is there are no exclusuves, blah, blah, blah.

Can't wait to get my hands on the console and the enhancements it will allow for my X1 and 360 BC games.

[corroios]

The Power Move is the only tactic left on the bag of Microsoft. The can scream that they have the most powerfull console ever. E3 will be 4k power, 4k power, 4k power, 4k power, BC 360, BC One, BC, Microsoft play everywhere and in last second the price of the console will appear in small numbers.

[AX7]

there's going to be a lot of people on suicide watch if MS shows off some interesting IP's at e3.

I wonder what the argument will be then....

[Sm3000]

Wow the hot takes are in abundance. I hope that the scorpio dethrones ps. And I'm a sony fan #1. Why would I say that? A bunch of reasons. For starters XB needs a shot of life desperately. Also competition is great. Then, to shut all of the narrow minded haters up

[RedPill86]

Anything for a negative article. We still lack tons of info and yet these journalists are opinion machines. Funny how that works.

[snkiworld]

Scorpio have exclusive games Leaks coming soon