[Updated 24 Feb 2012]
Xbox 720 rumours are heating up, so we've rounded up as many as possible for you to check out, as well investigated them further to try and see if they are plausible, or just plain nonsense.
We'll be updating this page as new rumous appear, so boomark it for all of the latest Xbox 720 news as it happens.
Also, if you have a Xbox 720 news tip, get in touch via the comment box below.
Xbox 720 has the working title ‘Durango’
First reported in mid-February, sources close to Microsoft apparently revealed that the manufacturer is using the internal codename ‘Durango’ when referring to its next console.
If the console has a working title then chances are it is either a fair way through the development phase, or is firmly on the minds of those in charge at Microsoft. The rumour doesn’t go much further beyond this, but the name Durango is, itself, quite interesting.
Durango is the name of a Mexican state, which ties into Microsoft’s working title for Kinect, which was Natal, another South American city situated in Brazil. Could the South American theme be Microsoft’s way of naming up work in progress projects? We’ll know soon enough.
Xbox 720 is six times more powerful than Xbox 360
This assumption began after rumours suggested that the Xbox 720 would use a GPU that is close to, or derived from an AMD Radeon 6670. If true, this would make the Xbox 720 only six times as powerful as its successor. In the grand scheme of hardware generation leaps, this is pitiful.
NowGamer recently discussed at length what the impact would be should this rumour turn out to be true. Well, while the AMD Radeon 6670 GPU is capable of 1080p HD visuals, Direct X11 compatibility and 3D imagery, it doesn’t do much else.
But, this would result in cheaper manufacturing costs for Microsoft and a lower selling price at market. While this would result in a cost-effective Xbox 720 that families and parents could afford on a budget – just like Nintendo Wii – it doesn’t seem likely that Microsoft would abandon its penchant for high-power, triple-a experiences just yet.
The Radeon 6670 rumour originally spun out of reports that production had begun on Xbox 720 dev kits, and that they included the GPU. However, it has also been suggested that both Ubisoft and EA are already developing titles on even earlier versions of the hardware.
Xbox 720 will run Unreal Engine 4
In early February 2012, Epic’s Mark Rein revealed that the studio would reveal Unreal Engine 4 later this year, and he said that it is currently running on “Systems we can’t name yet.” Rein dropped the info bomb at the DICE summit in Las Vegas, and the jury is still out on what formats he was referring to.
Given Xbox 360’s influx of Unreal Engine 3-powered titles over the years, it’s silly to assume that Xbox 720 won’t run Unreal Engine 4. Aside from Xbox 720, it seems likely that Wii U and whatever Sony has lined up next for the PlayStation brand will also run the engine.
Xbox 720 will use Windows 9 and will be cheaper
Following on from rumours that Xbox 720 will use a more cost-effective GPU, and will therefore be cheaper, a reliable source of Microsoft leaks MS Nerd claimed that Xbox 720 will run on Windows 9 – not a complete emulation of the PC-based Windows of course, but more likely a selection of key features.
Much like Xbox 360 now uses elements of Windows 8’s Metro visual interface, Xbox 720 could use some features of whatever Microsoft is planning with Windows 9.
According to MS Nerd, the Xbox 720 will also, “Use a Zune HD-like hardware platform—a 'main' processor with multiple dedicated assistive cores for graphics, AI, physics, sound, networking, encryption and sensors. It will be custom designed by Microsoft and two partners based on the ARM architecture.”
“It will be cheaper than the 360, further enabling Kinect adoption. And it will be far smaller than the 360. It will also demonstrate how Windows Phone could possible implement Windows 9’s dev platform on the lower end.”
Microsoft is having a huge Xbox 720 recruitment drive
This brand-new piece of information comes by way of a Microsoft job listing on both Gamasutra, and Microsoft’s own recruitment page. The company has started ramping up vacancies in the hardware section of its career site, with some references to gaming.
One vacancy listing in particular is for a Senior Network Programmer for something called ‘Platform Next’. As the job is specifically lifted under the Microsoft Studios gaming arm of the company, it seems likely that ‘Platform Next’ is a referral to Xbox 720.
The post also makes reference to the role being part of a “Next-generation project, built from the ground up in Microsoft Game Studios.” So whether this is a direct reference to Xbox 720 hardware itself, or a game for Microsoft’s new project, it’s clear that work is in full swing on the platform.
Project Gotham Racing 5 is an Xbox 720 launch title
While Project Gotham Racing 4 developer Bizarre Creations might be no more, it seems that Microsoft is looking to revive its former flagship racing series. Rumours of the game’s existence began way back in 2009 through the unlikeliest of sources.
Owner of a Tesla Roadster supercar, Tom Burt revealed on a Tesla enthusiast blog that Microsoft Games Studios asked Burt if he could take his car to the track in order for the developers to record the engine sounds for both Forza Motorsport 3, and a new Project Gotham Racing title.
Jump forward to 2012, and new reports started filtering through the news cracks regarding Project Gotham Racing 5. The current rumour is that the game will be an Xbox 720 launch title, and that Microsoft is looking to farm the game out to a third-party development studio.
If Project Gotham Racing 5 is indeed an Xbox 720 launch title, then the chances of it appearing at E3 2012 are slim. However, Microsoft has launched both Xbox consoles with Project Gotham Racing games, so there is a good chance this will happen again.
http://www.nowgamer.com/news/1258261/xbox_720_rumours_specs_release_date_launch_games_round_up.html
Xbox 720 rumours are heating up, so we've rounded up as many as possible for you to check out, as well investigated them further to try and see if they are plausible, or just plain nonsense.
We'll be updating this page as new rumous appear, so boomark it for all of the latest Xbox 720 news as it happens.
Also, if you have a Xbox 720 news tip, get in touch via the comment box below.
Xbox 720 has the working title ‘Durango’
First reported in mid-February, sources close to Microsoft apparently revealed that the manufacturer is using the internal codename ‘Durango’ when referring to its next console.
If the console has a working title then chances are it is either a fair way through the development phase, or is firmly on the minds of those in charge at Microsoft. The rumour doesn’t go much further beyond this, but the name Durango is, itself, quite interesting.
Durango is the name of a Mexican state, which ties into Microsoft’s working title for Kinect, which was Natal, another South American city situated in Brazil. Could the South American theme be Microsoft’s way of naming up work in progress projects? We’ll know soon enough.
Xbox 720 is six times more powerful than Xbox 360
This assumption began after rumours suggested that the Xbox 720 would use a GPU that is close to, or derived from an AMD Radeon 6670. If true, this would make the Xbox 720 only six times as powerful as its successor. In the grand scheme of hardware generation leaps, this is pitiful.
NowGamer recently discussed at length what the impact would be should this rumour turn out to be true. Well, while the AMD Radeon 6670 GPU is capable of 1080p HD visuals, Direct X11 compatibility and 3D imagery, it doesn’t do much else.
But, this would result in cheaper manufacturing costs for Microsoft and a lower selling price at market. While this would result in a cost-effective Xbox 720 that families and parents could afford on a budget – just like Nintendo Wii – it doesn’t seem likely that Microsoft would abandon its penchant for high-power, triple-a experiences just yet.
The Radeon 6670 rumour originally spun out of reports that production had begun on Xbox 720 dev kits, and that they included the GPU. However, it has also been suggested that both Ubisoft and EA are already developing titles on even earlier versions of the hardware.
Xbox 720 will run Unreal Engine 4
In early February 2012, Epic’s Mark Rein revealed that the studio would reveal Unreal Engine 4 later this year, and he said that it is currently running on “Systems we can’t name yet.” Rein dropped the info bomb at the DICE summit in Las Vegas, and the jury is still out on what formats he was referring to.
Given Xbox 360’s influx of Unreal Engine 3-powered titles over the years, it’s silly to assume that Xbox 720 won’t run Unreal Engine 4. Aside from Xbox 720, it seems likely that Wii U and whatever Sony has lined up next for the PlayStation brand will also run the engine.
Xbox 720 will use Windows 9 and will be cheaper
Following on from rumours that Xbox 720 will use a more cost-effective GPU, and will therefore be cheaper, a reliable source of Microsoft leaks MS Nerd claimed that Xbox 720 will run on Windows 9 – not a complete emulation of the PC-based Windows of course, but more likely a selection of key features.
Much like Xbox 360 now uses elements of Windows 8’s Metro visual interface, Xbox 720 could use some features of whatever Microsoft is planning with Windows 9.
According to MS Nerd, the Xbox 720 will also, “Use a Zune HD-like hardware platform—a 'main' processor with multiple dedicated assistive cores for graphics, AI, physics, sound, networking, encryption and sensors. It will be custom designed by Microsoft and two partners based on the ARM architecture.”
“It will be cheaper than the 360, further enabling Kinect adoption. And it will be far smaller than the 360. It will also demonstrate how Windows Phone could possible implement Windows 9’s dev platform on the lower end.”
Microsoft is having a huge Xbox 720 recruitment drive
This brand-new piece of information comes by way of a Microsoft job listing on both Gamasutra, and Microsoft’s own recruitment page. The company has started ramping up vacancies in the hardware section of its career site, with some references to gaming.
One vacancy listing in particular is for a Senior Network Programmer for something called ‘Platform Next’. As the job is specifically lifted under the Microsoft Studios gaming arm of the company, it seems likely that ‘Platform Next’ is a referral to Xbox 720.
The post also makes reference to the role being part of a “Next-generation project, built from the ground up in Microsoft Game Studios.” So whether this is a direct reference to Xbox 720 hardware itself, or a game for Microsoft’s new project, it’s clear that work is in full swing on the platform.
Project Gotham Racing 5 is an Xbox 720 launch title
While Project Gotham Racing 4 developer Bizarre Creations might be no more, it seems that Microsoft is looking to revive its former flagship racing series. Rumours of the game’s existence began way back in 2009 through the unlikeliest of sources.
Owner of a Tesla Roadster supercar, Tom Burt revealed on a Tesla enthusiast blog that Microsoft Games Studios asked Burt if he could take his car to the track in order for the developers to record the engine sounds for both Forza Motorsport 3, and a new Project Gotham Racing title.
Jump forward to 2012, and new reports started filtering through the news cracks regarding Project Gotham Racing 5. The current rumour is that the game will be an Xbox 720 launch title, and that Microsoft is looking to farm the game out to a third-party development studio.
If Project Gotham Racing 5 is indeed an Xbox 720 launch title, then the chances of it appearing at E3 2012 are slim. However, Microsoft has launched both Xbox consoles with Project Gotham Racing games, so there is a good chance this will happen again.
http://www.nowgamer.com/news/1258261/xbox_720_rumours_specs_release_date_launch_games_round_up.html
