270°

Will Microsoft Announce The New Console in January 2012?

Next generation gaming systems that may hit the market soon never fail to generate anticipation among gamers, no matter how much satisfying the current consoles offer. In the 2011 Video Game Awards held this month, there were frequent references and commercial segments pointing to the upcoming CES 2012 as a potentially huge event gaming enthusiasts shouldn’t miss. As the event showcases state-of-the-art electronics, the January CES trade show annually held in Las Vegas will have Microsoft participating for the last time and it sounds like it has something new to announce for 2012.

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gamebandits.com
PS3ROCKS4929d ago (Edited 4929d ago )

Xbox 720 with bluray.

Blackdeath_6634929d ago (Edited 4929d ago )

i thought blu ray was useless and that its never gonna be used? and now it suddenly matters?

NegativeCreep4274929d ago (Edited 4929d ago )

I expect them to swallow their pride and go ahead and accept Blu-Ray as their next-gen format.

I mean come on, I don't think Microsoft is that stubborn to continue with "DVD" and think that they will earn some kind of victory over the real gamers and "The Media".

If they do, then they are thinking the way Nintendo did against Sega in the early 90's.

blumatt4929d ago

I'd say it would just make sense for them to offer Blu Ray on their next gen console. If not, then they will at least use some other high capacity format like the Wii U is doing. However, I really hope they go with Blu Ray so that people can play their Blu Ray movies on their console. Yeah, sure, Netflix and Vudu are great, but they're not as good as Blu Ray.

They also need to make online multiplayer free. If they want to keep Gold and make it $50 to use all its features, then fine, but I think Silver members should be able to game online for free.

Also, (and this applies to the PS4 as well) it needs to cost around $399 or less so that it's affordable.

gamingdroid4929d ago

For high storage disc, there are other formats than blu-ray as demonstrated by the Wii's lack of BR support.

Adding BR would likely add a cost, and personally I get all my media needs streaming so would prefer that I didn't have get the past down cost of any potential licensing fees MS might incur.

Brand name BR stand-alone players are easily $80 and by that time will hit $50. Why bother?

Just buy a stand-alone BR player and save the wear and tear on your expensive next-gen console!

dirthurts4929d ago

blu ray drives are cheap now, so it's possible they may have it in there, or at least an add on (gasp).
I think it's more likely they adopt a sort of hd dvd drive and just push the digital media like they are though. Blu-ray really doesn't benifit MS, especially considering you can buy a player for 50 bucks now.

hellvaguy4929d ago

For gaming I sure hope MS doesnt do blu-ray. The storage capacity is second to none right now, however they are expensive and very slow for gaming. Obviously dvd is gunna die off, but hopefully something better will be out.

Blackdeath_6634929d ago

im talking about ms fanboys before they were like oh blu ray is shit and they dont need it and that it doesnt make a difference the list of fanboy arguments against bluray goes on and now they all want it on xbox all of a sudden. i dont think ms will use bluray they should use their dusty HDdvds they do the job.

Adityac4928d ago

Blu-Ray is useless WTF? Ok, No offence but do you have some kind of fat-ass 70's American TV with the little antenna on top? Dude, Blu-Ray is best CD format out there, providing stunning visual quality and sound. AND it holds a lot more memory, which allows installing even more content for games. Blu-Ray DOES MATTER, it's 2012...get yourself together and buy a Plasma or LED TV AND a Blu-Ray player, I recommend getting a PS3...

Adityac4928d ago

I read your second post, I see now. Sorry about the post earlier...

Jake_the_Dog4928d ago

Enjoying your multiple disks? Hahahahaha.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 4928d ago
Objective4929d ago

It was unnecessary this gen, maybe not next gen.

gaffyh4928d ago

A whole mega-list of PS3 exclusives (can't be bothered listing them) say hi.

Tony P4929d ago

Yeah, I figure MS will want a bigger, better format.

I remember when they talked big about digital downloads, but we all know that's just not going to happen anytime soon.

_Aarix_4929d ago (Edited 4929d ago )

Yea thats smart, having to pay patents for a disc thats going to be too small for next gen. Its going to be the same damn problem. If we want next gen graphics well need at least 100gb. Plus they could easily make a propritary disc.

gamingdroid4929d ago

We barely need more than DVD by today's standard, why bother with a next gen Blu-Ray format on next gen?

Games that use any significant space tends to be due to video that can easily be done in engine.

Personally, I would rather not pay for un-necessary technology.

arjman4929d ago

LOL Aarix do you know anything about the actual space requirements of current gen games?

We need more ram and more efficient multi-threaded cpu's. The gpu side is slightly more complicated due to the yearly updates to gpu's but i'm sure they can come up with something on that side.

_Aarix_4929d ago

@arjman
Yes I know disc space. I know uncompressed video and audio takes about 1 terrabyte. I know skyrim is only 4gb. But if next gen is going to have full 1080p with high quality cutscenes and possibly 3D and top that with future technology like the motion scan used in la noire then yea 50gb wont simply be enough. Sony was future proof with blu ray but it suffices this gen. We dont want to have multiple blu rays next gen. Yes we need better hardware but we dont want disc space to bottle up before hand.

skyblue142134929d ago

@_Aarix_

You know that blue ray technology can produce higher capacity discs that are bigger than the standard of 25 gb or 50 gb of today. As a matter of fact some months ago I remember reading somewhere that they developed a 250 gb blue ray disc(this 250 gb disc is not for sale to the public atm) and that blue ray technology can be developed further to produce even larger capacity discs.

The only other disc medium that rivals the blue ray disc is the Holographic Versatile Disc which has a 6 tb capacity, but development on the hvd ceased in 2008.

Given the flexibilities of blue ray technology it is safe to say that it is here to stay for the foreseeable future.

hellvaguy4929d ago

@Skyblue

Blu-ray has some great storage, but the read times are slow, that just doesnt seem adequate for next gen, even if u fork out a kings ransom for 100gb+ disks.

I want these discs, 20 times faster than blu-ray. http://www.examiner.com/gam...

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4929d ago
morkendo234929d ago

Microsoft participating for the last time and it sounds like it has something new to announce for 2012

probably the LOOONG waited announcement of new IP'S

ZippyZapper4928d ago (Edited 4928d ago )

great, mandatory installs on everything.

can't wait untill one of these pops up for the PS4 so I can troll it like the people above.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4928d ago
zeal0us4929d ago (Edited 4929d ago )

Going into the new year announcing a next gen console....doubt it. Probably more features to the 360 in a future update, future microsoft products that doesn't revolve around and some kinect stuff probably. The next xbox probably won't be announce until E3 or some other big gaming convention.

PandemicPrawn04929d ago

not going to happen at CES thats for sure.

I expect E3 to be the stage from witch they will pull back the certain on the next Xbox.

Halo 4 demo + next gen Xbox reveal = Happy me!

OcularVision4928d ago

Halo 4 will be on the Xbox 360, they won't port it over either. Seeing as how Halo 2 released like right before they announced the Xbox 360.

Blackdeath_6634929d ago

for a next gen console to be released there has to be some advancement, new innovations, new hardware. releasing a console this early would be just making the same thing as xbox 360 except with better graphics and preformance. not really next gen unless theres new invention to go with it like this gen there was bluray and hddvd. a bit like when we moved on from using those big cartages and used cd roms instead. or when we had graphic accelerators on consoles for first time.

with the technology we have today i think having a gaming social network might be a winner like when you open your console youd have your different friend groups and you can keep in touch with ppl youve played with online but more interactive. i know ppl would say that already exists but i think it could be done better and have dedicated branding.

SilentNegotiator4929d ago

If there are benefits to announcing your new console in the very beginning of the year, I'm not seeing them.

I doubt it.

Show all comments (62)
130°

‘I think Xbox hardware is dead’, says Microsoft gaming veteran

One of the founding members of the Xbox team has questioned Microsoft’s multiplatform gaming strategy, and said they believe the Xbox hardware business is effectively “dead"

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videogameschronicle.com
13h agoReplies(3)
Goodguy0111h ago

Think that rumor that they'll still make a new console but at a profit at $1000 will be true though. The series consoles will remain their cheap alternative throughout next gen I would say. Keep in mind that game pass and pretty much going 3rd party is their main focus. They want to bring xbox everywhere.

11h ago
Nfs139h ago

It’s dead but they’re also making new hardware

Schrodingers Hardware 😂😂

Futureshark14m ago

A slow, painful and public death too.

300°

Looming Xbox layoffs threaten Microsoft's reputation

Even as the company sets out to overhaul the very definition of Xbox, cuts at its studios risk creating a negative image reminiscent of EA's worst era

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gamesindustry.biz
Jingsing2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

I appreciate the article but this guy must be living in a delayed universe, The reputation was ruined 10+ years ago and hasn't recovered since. As such people have voted with their wallets and stopped buying Xbox products in large amounts.

YourMommySpoils1d 10h ago

Their reputation was lost way before that. From the moment Microsoft said they entering the console business, we all knew it would be a downgrade.

Bathyj20h ago(Edited 20h ago)

That's not true at all the OG Xbox had drive and they had hunger and they wanted to accomplish something. It was a great console.

they didn't quite reach their goals and they gave up prematurely because they couldn't win. It was halfway through the Xbox 360 when kinect released and that was when they lost their way and we're a rudderless ship ever since

Agent7517h ago

In all fairness, Xbox had some great games with online play, Xbox 360 even better. Xbox consoles started to die with the Xbox One. Ditch consoles for the PC and PS.

YourMommySpoils9h ago

@Bathyj hard to compute ay. Xbox was never better than a PC and that's all they ever were. A demo box. Doesn't get more true than that.

2d ago Replies(1)
isarai2d ago

What reputation is this threatening exactly? 😂

Lightning772d ago

Rumors of Turn 10 being either shut down or hit with massive lay offs is on the horizon.

The issue is MS will do something right only to do something very, very wrong. And they do this what seems calculative at this point. Doesn't matter what they do the Investors and leadership want more and more money an endless bottomless pit of purr insatiable greed. A company that acts like it's broke or hurting is what really, really infuriates me. They've surpassed apple again well over 3 trillion who acts like they're a million dollar company is fk stupid. Pivots and changes for no reason and can't do things for more than a year with out a pivot or changing their metrics.

Christopher1d 14h ago

That would be really bad since Phil just hyped up next year as a big Forza year at Summer Game Fest.

1Victor1d 13h ago

@christopher: “ That would be really bad since Phil just hyped up next year as a big Forza year at Summer Game Fest”
The key word big can be ether good or bad 🤷🏿only time can tell

DarXyde1d 12h ago

First Forza being generated entirely via AI?

If any company would do it, it'd be them.

Nacho_Z1d 1h ago

Isn't the point that it's irrelevant how profitable MS is, the suits have decided it's time that the Xbox division started making them money. Hence the layoffs, the pivots.

hennessey8620h ago

That wouldn't surprise me, as motorsport has been heading down hill since the great number 4. Where as playground have consistently put out better games. I think the two studios will be merged under playground games banner.

1d 15h ago Replies(2)
Show all comments (63)
660°

Microsoft planning “major” Xbox layoffs next week

The cuts are expected to be announced next week.

Microsoft is also planning thousands of job cuts that will impact other parts of it businesses

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theverge.com
5d ago Replies(1)
5d ago Replies(1)
Obscure_Observer5d ago

MFs has been beating their chests over great quarterly results and big profits to shareholders while firing people by the thousands just like Sony.

I wonder if at the top of those rumored layoffs they´ll also cancel upcoming or unannounced games while shutting down more studios as well.

5d ago
pwnmaster30005d ago

Always got to throw shade at Sony smh.
Yes we get it,
MS good Sony bad
MS bad Sony is also bad lmao

5d ago
Obscure_Observer5d ago

F* them both!

Just for the record, I don´t care about your victim complex crap either. Find someone else who cares.

blacktiger5d ago

He was talking about both. Why you getting offended when he's using both names

pwnmaster30005d ago (Edited 5d ago )

@Blacktiger

Im not offended , that’s just his formula lol
He can’t help help himself, he needs to bring Sony down when the topic involves MS.
Whether is good news for MS or bad, it some how leads to Sony doing bad lmao.
It’s actually hilarious.

InUrFoxHole5d ago

He's not wrong but im tracking what youre saying. In this case is should just be MS bad. Thats a lot of people fired

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 5d ago
Tacoboto5d ago

"just like Sony"

Gosh you're insufferable, not everything needs to be both-sides'd. Sony's had layoffs, but nothing like what Microsoft has been doing and is continuing to do.

CrimsonWing695d ago (Edited 5d ago )

I mean, no offense, but this is why you’re not some corporate business person running a major corporation. Big profits don’t mean jobs are safe. Do you understand why things like this happen:

Cutting jobs to maintain or increase profitability, especially in underperforming divisions like parts of Xbox like other gaming divisions.

Corporate restructuring and relocating resources for strategic stability in ever changing markets and consumer behaviors.

Investor expectations and optimizing operations to maintain investor confidence. Whatever boosts stock prices and improves future margins.

And there’s many other factors at play. It’s never as simple as business doing well, everyone’s safe. That’s just you not understanding at all how corporations work and have been working since the beginning. This isn’t something that’s specific to Xbox, you can bet your ass Sony and Nintendo do this and if it’s not clear by now, game development is not a stable job nor has it ever been for many. A lot of developers are contractors and guess what happens when a project is done?

Ganif5d ago

Nintendo said they have no plans for layoffs, and you can't seriously claim that the scale of Sony's layoffs most of which involved Bungie which is self managed as even close to the same scale as what Microsoft has done since they purchased Zenimax. And that significantly less layoffs would have happened if those publishers had stayed independent. Keep in mind that much of these layoffs have been due to redundancies specifically related to these buyouts.

CrimsonWing695d ago (Edited 5d ago )

@Ganif

Nintendo:

https://gamerant.com/ninten...

Sony:

https://gamerant.com/playst...

https://techxplore.com/news...

I don’t think it’s realistic to treat Sony’s layoffs as somehow outside the norm for the industry right now. Even if Bungie is self-managed, Sony’s cuts went far beyond that like Naughty Dog, Insomniac, London Studio being shut down completely, and multiple teams across the globe took hits. These weren’t just minor adjustments.

Nintendo, I had to look up and you’re right. They seem to be an outlier, but rest assured at some point it happens. And even then there’s been layoffs, albeit a smaller amount and contractors.

Would fewer layoffs have happened if studios from acquisitions stayed independent? Maybe. But even independents have been hit hard and look at what’s happened with Embracer’s fallout, or smaller devs like Digic, Roll7, or Volition. This isn’t just a “Microsoft problem” or strictly tied to acquisitions; it’s a broader correction happening across the whole industry, and unfortunately, layoffs are a big part of that process right now.

Ganif5d ago

From your article:

"According to reports, Nintendo of America restructured its testing operations, leading to layoffs of about 120 contractors, part of a strategy for global integration.

Nintendo of America, publisher of iconic franchises like Mario and Zelda, is shifting some contractors to full-time roles for better development integration."

Contractors are not employees, and even if you want to count them as that, it's 120 people vs around 7500 since Microsoft purchased Zenimax.

In an era of game industry layoffs, Nintendo is hiring more people
https://automaton-media.com...

Nintendo Announces 10 Percent Pay Raise For Devs Despite Lower Profits
https://kotaku.com/nintendo...

Nintendo CEO’s refusal to layoff staff goes viral following industry-wide cuts
"Satoru Iwata took pay cuts to ensure staff didn’t have to be let go"
https://www.nme.com/news/ga...

And as for Sony you're comparing less than 1000 total jobs to an estimated7500

Has the industry faced layoffs, yes, but that still doesn't account for the mass layoffs due to redundancies that was easily predictable, or that fact that at least 1/3 of Microsoft's layoffs and studio closures happened before the industry downturn.

thorstein5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Take the L, Crimson.

People hate Nintendo, but Ganif proved why they deserve support.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 5d ago
-Foxtrot5d ago

It's like banging your head off a wall, he just can't help himself.

Microsoft can do no wrong, Sony sucks at everything and Nintendo is bigged up because it's less hassle than trying to defend Microsoft all the time

What's going to happen when Microsoft finally turn completely third party, then what?

anast5d ago

I enjoy Obscure. Obscure does good work.

crazyCoconuts5d ago

Did you know that the first n4g was designed to be a perfect human world? Where none suffered, where everyone would be happy. It was a disaster. No one would accept the program.

Tacoboto5d ago

I wouldn't be surprised at this point if anast and osbcure were both alts for the Admin.

We know how Obscure especially drums up additional comments and clicks with his spam-worthy remarks that somehow never get moderated

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 5d ago
Profchaos5d ago

Thats business present a strong front to your shareholders while your company burns around you.

Keep shareholders happy at all costs andnif not happy keep them numb to the reality of you organisation

Angyobangyo5d ago

" Just for the record, I don´t care about your victim complex crap either. Find someone else who cares. "

Just for the record, you clearly you do if you have to vent this hard.

TheExecutioner4d ago

Basically you think like kids when it come to choose between candy or chocolate.

Sonic18814d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Are you and Anast the same person?

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 4d ago
5d ago
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