FUD or not, Valve believed it was on the horizon. At least more costs and control over them through the Windows platform than they were wanting to have imposed on them.
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Microsoft unifying PC/XB1 platforms, Phil implies Xbox moving to incremental upgrades
- Thread starter dancrane212
- Start date
FUD or not, Valve believed it was on the horizon. At least more costs and control over them through the Windows platform than they were wanting to have imposed on them.
I imagine the first step in this process for next Xbox would be this.
Decent/recent CPU paired with a sizeable amount of ram...
Swappable gpu will be the winner here as they could have defined driver supports for each lets say 2yr cycle.
So for example, if they were to release today, you buy the next gen Xbox that has let's say a current i5 6500k equivalent (aka a ZEN cpu) and a swapable gpu component for $500. The finer details aka HD (could make swapable), audio/ports, bluray drive and wireless dont matter as those age relatively fine.
Then every 2-3 years offer a gpu upgrade for $125-$150 thats compatible with the current hardware. With a decent processor and ram on the front end the entire system ages well due to the graphics swapping ability. Factor in a trade back program and you can make it work while having better graphics to keep up with constantly updating engines.
This should work as current Gen GPUs usually cost what $70-80 per system? Then by the Xbox's 7th or 8th year, announce a newer system that refreshes the cpu and ram and start the process again.
Decent/recent CPU paired with a sizeable amount of ram...
Swappable gpu will be the winner here as they could have defined driver supports for each lets say 2yr cycle.
So for example, if they were to release today, you buy the next gen Xbox that has let's say a current i5 6500k equivalent (aka a ZEN cpu) and a swapable gpu component for $500. The finer details aka HD (could make swapable), audio/ports, bluray drive and wireless dont matter as those age relatively fine.
Then every 2-3 years offer a gpu upgrade for $125-$150 thats compatible with the current hardware. With a decent processor and ram on the front end the entire system ages well due to the graphics swapping ability. Factor in a trade back program and you can make it work while having better graphics to keep up with constantly updating engines.
This should work as current Gen GPUs usually cost what $70-80 per system? Then by the Xbox's 7th or 8th year, announce a newer system that refreshes the cpu and ram and start the process again.
IbizaPocholo
NeoGAFs Kent Brockman
Please be true.New xbox's every year with upgraded hardware is awesome.Like steam machines.
Edit:Sorry but i posted in this thread twice and it's a mistake.
Edit:Sorry but i posted in this thread twice and it's a mistake.
this is very bizarre way to go about it, especially if you dropped 500 Day 1 for a xbone
it will all come down to how its handled.
i think a new upgrade every year wont work and every 2 years is pushing it.
they also need to make it clear on when a console wont be supported and when games wont run on it. its easy for app stores to do this since every app is downloaded, but with console games able to buy physical they need to make it clear
i think a new upgrade every year wont work and every 2 years is pushing it.
they also need to make it clear on when a console wont be supported and when games wont run on it. its easy for app stores to do this since every app is downloaded, but with console games able to buy physical they need to make it clear
Dinky Dino
Member
Imo, Xbox is basically a windows 10 powered prebuilt pc that ms lets you upgrade and handles all the stuff some people don't want to bother to look up. It can likely handle newer graphics, mods, word and all the stuff. Sort of like the windows version of steamos.
PCs are for the types that can do everything themselves including look up parts and building it as well as maintaining it.
Outrun
Member
The way you envision it, you are right.
Fortunately, we do not know the Xbox roadmap.
The Xbox would continue to be a closed platform with plug and play ease of use. You would just be able to upgrade if you feel you want whatever the newest hardware is without losing access to everything you previously bought.
It's kinda the best of both worlds if they can nail the execution of the concept.
Upgrading part wise on PC is very overstated. Yes you can buy a faster Vid Card, better ram, Faster CPU. But its all tied to what the motherboard supports. If you have an older PC, just putting in a faster vid card often doesn't improve things that much. PC gaming performance is a sum of its parts. A slow CPU or RAM is going to hold back a vid card. Putting in a fast CPU with an older vid card doesn't really get you much either. And its all limited to the Motherboard as when new Ram and CPU architectures come out, you have to change out the MB to support them. Your best performance upgrades come from upgrading the Motherboard, CPU, Ram and Vid Card all in one go. And for less than an extra $100 you can put it all in a new case with new power supply. So noticable performance increases are really just brand new PCs.
On Xbox I would assume you would just buy the new model, not parts, wouldn't make sense.
What do you mean by left behind? I build a new PC, I can still play Doom on it.
I can also buy the latest game on my older PC and turn some settings down and play it fine. This is the model MS is aiming their console plans for.
Ol No Bones
Banned
Why?
Yes this! It's about time!
outunderthestars
Banned
I would argue that it has. People pretty much started buying the N3DS, and 3DS games on it load faster and what not.
This is 100% how I see it. It is the end of me trying to figure out a good living room pc solution. I will likely pick up whatever the next round of xbox hardware is after I am done with my current living room pc project.
Say hello to the future of Xbox One.
Terrible comparison as the 32X, Sega CD, and genesis all had different software that only ran on those components. This will feature the same software across generations.
And closed eco system?
ThoughtsOfSpeaking
Banned
Soooo...basically what people were certain wouldnt happen?
Its gonna be interesting to see how this all plays out.
Its gonna be interesting to see how this all plays out.
But if it's primarily for gaming and uses the app wrapper bollocks, isn't it basically just a console but one you might have to upgrade yearly to keep up with current games? - so a slightly more complicated console. Maybe I'm just seeing this as some who currently has a Windows 7 USB boot stick for my final escape, but this seems like Microsoft is trying to be jack of all trades, master of none. They can only hold off being Microsoft and screwing it all up so long. And when it rains, it fucking pours with them.
Don't get me, I am interested to see how it turns out and hope it does end up being great and we can all frolic together in the green hills, but that track record...
Ol No Bones
Banned
Who said this wouldn't happen?
Yeah, that sounds about right. If this is indeed true and works well for ms, consoles (as we know them) are doomed. I'm ok with it I suppose.
Graphics Horse
Member
That is a fair question. It could alter buying habits if they start coming out ' every year or so'. I guess they'd have crossover where the old one sits next to the new one at a slightly reduced price. Either way, with them talking about it so openly and the DX12 stuff in place, I expect this will happen this year and not later.
SneakersSO
Member
Yeahhhh, so i've been a game developer for 5 years now, and this sounds like an absolute terrible idea. I mean, if they're trying to bow out of the 'console' space gracefully, this is a nice way to do it, but adding new hardware skus isn't really going to do anything but give devs headaches.
Kibbles
Member
Feels like it could really segment the population. Like if I want to play Halo 6 and have recently upgraded my system do I can play it 1080/60 but my friend can only play 30fps or some shit. I like the idea of being able to upgrade but it kinda ruins the fairness in having games run exactly the same.
Let us just make an example with the current gen:
PS4 and Xbox One
The latter is the baseline. Now MS decides to bring out a new Xbox One (Let's call it Xbox One.2) that runs game at the same specs like PS4. Two years later (still the same gen where PS4 resides), MS brings out a Xbox One.3 which runs those games not only at 1080p but also 60FPS. Now Sony announces a PS5 which is more powerful than Xbox One.3 by the same margin as the PS4 is more powerful than an Xbox One. Nothing is lost for vanilla Xbox One until the PS5 is announced but it's same time PS4 users also have to update. The cycle repeats.
False assessment, compare launch games to the final years of last gen, there is a massive improvement!
AHA-Lambda
Member
If I understand this right, it's like releasing annual upgrades to the XB1?
This sounds like a potential nightmare for devs and certainly for the average consumer :/
This sounds like a potential nightmare for devs and certainly for the average consumer :/
wonderful103
Member
you can make a profile for each hardware sku
Roberto Larcos
Member
In truth, 3DS feels a little bit abandoned. Also, there's not even a resolution bump, which doesn't scream 'added value'.
Imagine Halo 6, playable with variable resolution at 60 fps on Xbox One, or at a rock solid 1080p constantly on Xbox Two. Maybe not many will upgrade, but the new console buyers will more likely go for it over the older model. This model would ensure that console sales don't completely dry up at the end of a gen (as they always have done). I think 3 or 4 year gaps would be sufficient though - minimum of 6 or 8 years support, with 2 SKUs maximum (which means devs can still go 'to the metal'.
This.
The console generation would mean nothing. The software catalog is what you'd get into. Like Microsoft first party games? You can play on PC already or buy the less expensive box, and there you go.
Shifty
Member
CitizenCope
Member
This is what I'm thinking and I'm all for it.
dragonzdogma
Member
You wanna know why this a terrible move IMO,
because I don't even understand what the thread is all about,and I've been gaming mostly on console since forever.I'll try to explain what the thread is all about (I'm sure I'll be wrong)
So Xbox one is going to either be a service (Like sega, I guess?) and try to go PC?
Or the Xbox brand will come out with a next gen console that's pretty much a pc where you will be able to upgrade it (like a pc) If you want to play the latest games?
I'm sorry if that's the case, that's just to complicated, I cant see myself,kids/parents going to the store buying the next gen game and having to buy extra parts and install them in your xbox one two?
I hope consoles stay consoles and pc stay pc until the day I die.
NX, PS4 for please don't follow the route.
because I don't even understand what the thread is all about,and I've been gaming mostly on console since forever.I'll try to explain what the thread is all about (I'm sure I'll be wrong)
So Xbox one is going to either be a service (Like sega, I guess?) and try to go PC?
Or the Xbox brand will come out with a next gen console that's pretty much a pc where you will be able to upgrade it (like a pc) If you want to play the latest games?
I'm sorry if that's the case, that's just to complicated, I cant see myself,kids/parents going to the store buying the next gen game and having to buy extra parts and install them in your xbox one two?
I hope consoles stay consoles and pc stay pc until the day I die.
NX, PS4 for please don't follow the route.
KingJ2002
Member
Additional Thoughts:
- This puts the Xbox in the same space as the upcoming Nintendo NX except that Microsoft is focusing on universal applications between PC/Xbox while Nintendo is focusing on universal applications between their mobile and console units.
Different approaches, similar result thanks to a shared OS.
- Go digital with game purchases from here on out. If you buy through the XBL store.. and it allows you to install on your registered devices (Xbox or PC). This news makes physical copies kinda pointless unless the disc starts working for your PC as well.
- I hope that Microsoft announce a bi-annual upgrade cycle for the Xbox One (if they go that route)
- This puts the Xbox in the same space as the upcoming Nintendo NX except that Microsoft is focusing on universal applications between PC/Xbox while Nintendo is focusing on universal applications between their mobile and console units.
Different approaches, similar result thanks to a shared OS.
- Go digital with game purchases from here on out. If you buy through the XBL store.. and it allows you to install on your registered devices (Xbox or PC). This news makes physical copies kinda pointless unless the disc starts working for your PC as well.
- I hope that Microsoft announce a bi-annual upgrade cycle for the Xbox One (if they go that route)
HanzSnubSnub
Member
This defeats the purpose of having a console, and many casual players don't want to keep up with change. They prefer to buy one console every 6 years, and have all the games they want on it.
I will not be supporting this.
I will not be supporting this.
D
Deleted member 752119
Unconfirmed Member
Not surprising at all. I've been saying for a long while that future Xboxes would likely be essentially Windows 10 gaming boxes. Much like a SteamBox, or Alienware Alpha.
It just makes too much sense not to do it that way, have all their exclusives on both those boxes and any gaming PC, not have to waste resources on console-specific OSs or hardware (as the gaming machines can just use PC parts just like an Alpha etc.).
It just makes too much sense not to do it that way, have all their exclusives on both those boxes and any gaming PC, not have to waste resources on console-specific OSs or hardware (as the gaming machines can just use PC parts just like an Alpha etc.).
what does this even mean? do you think dev's aren't going to exhaustingly test on each and every SKU?
Dinky Dino
Member
The heck are you talking about? People have been using the same cpus for years without upgrading them at 1080p ever since intel released the quad cores in 2009. Video cards have been the only recent upgrades people really need. Putting in a faster video card doesn't improve things that much? I've been on an i7 920 @ 4ghz from 2009 and literally just put in a new video card and go from 30 to 60 aka replacing my 480. I finally might switch it for a zen next year in 2017.
The majority of Console gamers are not enthusiasts, they respond to pricing and ease of use and a once in every 6 years investment, that has always been the staple of the console experience.
Consoles aren't phones, I have a difficult time believing an upgradeable system will bring in the traditional console buyer
pixellated_man
Member
Yup. That is something that will be unavoidable with regular iterations. Early adopters will always have a nagging feeling that their purchase will be superseded by superior hardware a few years down the line and de-incentivize developers from making the best possible version of a game for their - by now inferior specced hardware.
Its really hard to see what direction they take it in. Apple can get away with minor upgrades and sell another 500+ device, MS cannot really but that mindset might change if they drawn the PC and Xbox ecosystem together.
That's because it took developers time to figure it out. Esp.PS3. You aren't going to see the same gain with this generation or any gain.
TheBryanJZX90
Member
So it's kind of like
Surface is to the tablet PC market as Xbone is to the HTPC market? That sounds great to me actually.
Surface is to the tablet PC market as Xbone is to the HTPC market? That sounds great to me actually.
I think this is great news, no different than annual upgrades to your favourite smart phone hardware.
I will bite, and I sure the many Xbox faithfulls that are tired of being shat on by the lack of hardware strength this generation will too.
As far as I see it, give the consumers the choice and let them sort it out from there.
I will bite, and I sure the many Xbox faithfulls that are tired of being shat on by the lack of hardware strength this generation will too.
As far as I see it, give the consumers the choice and let them sort it out from there.
CosmicGroinPull
Member
Watch them go: "Playstation. The home of good ol traditional gaming."
Why does the market leader have to scramble and do anything when a runner up hatches some new scheme to reset the market? Just sit back and watch, and if it works, then copy it.
Ol No Bones
Banned
All those devs for PC must get the worst headaches.
Roberto Larcos
Member
I think annual is too much.
3 or 4 years though? I could totally go for that, and it would ensure that sales don't dry up at the end of the gen.
Tatsumi Oga
Banned
Hate to sound like a dumby, but how is this going to play out? We don't buy new Xbox consoles every year but in what way do we get the upgrades then and how much will it cost?