Funny, they seem to be alright with their phones and tablets. Casuals are aware of their app library in their devices running iOS and Android.
Microsoft unifying PC/XB1 platforms, Phil implies Xbox moving to incremental upgrades
- Thread starter dancrane212
- Start date
Funny, they seem to be alright with their phones and tablets. Casuals are aware of their app library in their devices running iOS and Android.
Same, and its been pretty clear to me that something like this was going to happen. The only thing I have been curious about is how they go about it. Ever since E3 my thinking has shifted from if they are going to do it to how they are going to do it. Do they offer a USB upgrade or a whole new piece of hardware that upgrades across the board like a tablet? Obviously they require backwards compatibility and a certain amount of forwards compatibility, but do they allow developers to at some point require a minimum spec system, or are they locked to making something that works on the original XBO hardware? Are they locked into having a similar APU and RAM setup, or can they opt for faster RAM with more ESRAM or no ESRAM at all? Then it gets into the details surrounding the software. How much of a boost can the hardware provide with minimal effort through the API? Does a developer need to treat the version 2 hardware as another platform entirely to get decent results? What about past games, can a developer patch an older game to take advantage of the new hardware, and if so how easy is that process?
I am actually very excited about the direction they are going, and I expect we are going to hear a lot more at E3. Hell, if Phil is already putting the idea out there then I wouldn't be surprised if we re getting a new version this holiday that is fully supported by all of the major fall releases.
Calibos
Member
Maybe true...but I think its more like taking it to the next level. I can completely picture the Xbox sitting next to the Windows PC, the Surface and maybe the eventual Surface phone. Multiple iterations all able to run UWAs much like the IOS devices.
Even now, in March we get the xbox 360 store on the Xbox One. To me, its the basis for the next iteration, which will be the Xbox One store on the Xbox S or Two or whatever they call it.
Sorry, I am not very technical, but it seems like an evolution of the brand rather than an exit...which I suppose could mean that the Xbox is not a "console" any more.
Don't forget the Mobile game devs that have to support a myriad of devices.
justsomeguy
Member
And IMO it was FUD from Valve to push their own platform.
Windows' entire success, history and reason for existing is to be the open platform on which everyone else's software runs. I can't foresee a day when they say "Here's a version of Windows that we've locked Win32 apps out of". (WinRT tried/had to for technical reasons (ARM chip inside) and it was terrible).
Graphics Horse
Member
Yeah yearly might be pushing it. Works for mobile because the tech is advancing at a faster rate.
outunderthestars
Banned
Holy shit. That does sound kind of awesome, even to someone like me who dislikes Windows.
I could see 24 -36 months between hardware. Year one: new hardware, Year 2 price reduction/bundles, Year 3 announce new hardware further reduce price on second gen hardware and repeat.
Roberto Larcos
Member
Valve has to prepare for the absolute worst case scenario, just as any company does. It doesn't make it even remotely likely.
The thing that gives me pause is the thought that console hardware changes have not really been successful in the past, no?
I remember the CD add-on for the SNES that was scrapped became the PlayStation.
Sega tried to do the Sega CD IIRC.
Nintendo had that expansion pack for N64 for certain games.
Those are the ones I remember and I'm sure there are more. I wonder how Microsoft intends to succeed where a lot of platform holders have failed.
I remember the CD add-on for the SNES that was scrapped became the PlayStation.
Sega tried to do the Sega CD IIRC.
Nintendo had that expansion pack for N64 for certain games.
Those are the ones I remember and I'm sure there are more. I wonder how Microsoft intends to succeed where a lot of platform holders have failed.
Ol No Bones
Banned
Headaches everywhere!
You make zero sense. Surface is not sold as a gaming device.
SneakersSO
Member
Okay, thats not how development, particularly how optimization, would work. Each hardware revision would add its own development process & QA pipeline into the mix. Especially if my game is still X1 compatible. I'd still just target the X1 baseline, but I dunno if i'd even make my game "Xbox Two" compatible, since that is going to be an entire new box I have to support with a potentially low marketshare i'm selling to. Its a lot of extra work & money for potentially very little (if no) return.
Storm Kyleis
Member
Sounds like PC, which is a dream for developers - a huge, unified user base.
justsomeguy
Member
We don't know. Upgrades could be selected upgrade packs that you just slot in. There are already some excellent modular PC's out there, so it might not even be opening up the case the screw something new in.
As for price...dunno!
This quote makes me chuckle;
"PC gaming is as important as its ever been in the company,” he said.
That means jack shit, Phil. That means nothing from a company that has never been able to give a shit about PC gaming for more than one moment a year. Pull your head out of your ass and fuck off.
...Ahem. I'll wait to see how far they're going with this. Hopefully, Microsoft somehow won't cock it up and drop it.
"PC gaming is as important as its ever been in the company,” he said.
That means jack shit, Phil. That means nothing from a company that has never been able to give a shit about PC gaming for more than one moment a year. Pull your head out of your ass and fuck off.
...Ahem. I'll wait to see how far they're going with this. Hopefully, Microsoft somehow won't cock it up and drop it.
Whole console.
family_guy
Member
I guess I just don't agree that the experience is diminished. It's the same. So performance issues is always a hot topic for Xbox One. So right now you can only accept that you'll get dynamic 1080p experiences depending on the game. If a new system comes out, but you don't upgrade you'll still get the same dynamic 1080p experience. Nothing changed for you regardless if the options is there or not. You may feel bad that someone else gets a better experience, but that to me seems like sour grapes. I don't feel bad about my cellphone or iPad everytime a new one comes out. My current phone and iPad still plays the same games.
Silly idea, in my opinion. Talk about fragmenting your user base.
The quote in the OP implies that the newer consoles would still be able to run older games but what about the reverse?
Could an original Xbox One run one of the newer games that takes advantage of the (assumed) increased specs of a later model Xbox One?
How would multi-platform developers account for that?
I don't see this happening. The main reason I switched from primarily gaming on PC to console was I wanted to break this constant hardware upgrade cycle.
The quote in the OP implies that the newer consoles would still be able to run older games but what about the reverse?
Could an original Xbox One run one of the newer games that takes advantage of the (assumed) increased specs of a later model Xbox One?
How would multi-platform developers account for that?
I don't see this happening. The main reason I switched from primarily gaming on PC to console was I wanted to break this constant hardware upgrade cycle.
It would be like the iPhone.
You pick when you want to upgrade, but as time goes on, your system gets progressively more dated, and eventually stops running new games.
justsomeguy
Member
Except that you're developing for a moving target anyway, aka PC... Xbox Two just becomes another form factor within that scalable game you're already building.
Devilgunman
Member
Better make sure not to engrave your XB1 people so you don't lose its value when you turn it in for a XB1S+.
Crazy.
Dinky Dino
Member
My man.
I'm still running my 920 at stock. Beast of a CPU
I don't know how this thing won't die but I'm going on near 7 years now with it. Faster ram? New motherboard? I don't know what silly stuff these people spread about pcs but the only thing I needed was a gpu upgrade these last 6 years for 60 fps at 1920x1200.
The best part is dx12 finally takes advantage of the 8 cores on the i7 so I might not even NEED to upgrade this thing and it will die before I do.
Caipirinha
Member
This is just a way to leave the console market without their stocks taking a confidence knock; turn the Xbox One into a PC, do a limited run of slightly upgraded SKUs at some point in the future, see if it works, if it doesn't just move on.
It's the end of Microsoft as a console competitor and I hope the gaming community just sees it for what it is because it would be a bit annoying to play into this pretense that is probably only there for a memo to shareholders.
It's the end of Microsoft as a console competitor and I hope the gaming community just sees it for what it is because it would be a bit annoying to play into this pretense that is probably only there for a memo to shareholders.
I understand how it would work, but that doesn't stop me from thinking it is a shitty idea.
justsomeguy
Member
Phil specifically mentioned forward compatibility, which would imply that yes that's exactly what he has in mind.
In on the one and only Xbox One+++++++ master race.
I'm of the same mind frankly. MS recent announcements all seem to give very subtle hints towards this notion.
Frustrated_me
Member
This sounds incredibly amazing, I don't understand how anyone would be against this. It's clearly the future. I don't want to purchase an additional hardware to play games, I already have an Alienware Alpha, it would be great to play 360/ONE games on it.
AHA-Lambda
Member
Yeah but PC is so readily able to drop support for hardware will all these different AAA studios be so willing on console?
Look at the hassle and pain devs went through on 360 for so long for they couldn't guarantee a hard drive was in every box.
Plus for the average consumer it could be a minefield.
Bu..bu...but...downgrade! Yeah sure. Just like uncharted 3 was downgraded.
You confusing potential with reality is your own bloody fault. I'd rather take Carmack's words over yours.
Ol No Bones
Banned
Or you will develop a UWA and it will scale with small effort. (If it works as advertised)
So like a PC, except without of the actual flexibility of a PC, like being able to buy parts from all kinds of vendors and run whatever software/storefront you want.
I don't see how this is supposed to keep people in the Xbox ecosystem. If anything, they lose the ease-of-use and single hardware investment the console space is usually known for.
I don't see how this is supposed to keep people in the Xbox ecosystem. If anything, they lose the ease-of-use and single hardware investment the console space is usually known for.
Can video cards and PC setups from 2-3 years ago run games from today? Scalability will be a major component going forward. PC games already handle this really well in most cases.
Nope, using that logic an off the shelf PC from Best Buy is closed platform as well, you don't have to upgrade anything if you don't want to. But the reason WHY the Xbox wouldn't be "closed" is because devs would have to make games compatible with multiple hardware versions. If you decide to upgrade or not is irrelevant.
I would guess they just release 3 or 4 different consoles at the launch of the next gen.
So like...
$400 = 1080p 60fps
$600= 1440p 60fps
$800 = 4k 60fps.
or something along those lines.
You will be able to upgrade each several times during the gen for a set price depending on how you want to play.
The most expensive box will probably be called ELITE or somethin.
You really think MS will move awwy from their closed ecosystem?
Worst case scenario, the new Xbox revision totally fails to sell, but by then MS will already have the Windows games train going with Halo/Forza/etc. on Windows 10 and they get to report an uptick in MAUs for the month.
This is a transition away from consoles, so I don't think it's a huge problem if the new hardware revisions fail to sell at all. This is almost a no-lose situation, unless somehow their franchises fail to make an audience on PC, which I can't see happening..
Why? You do the same with tablets. Phones. TV setup boxes.
The Albatross
Member
This is such a strange, incorrect, non-sequitur thought. Rebutting it (Xbox Live and streaming media) would surely fall into a wormhole of bizarro-world where you think those innovative features don't matter or Sony's stubborn delay in those areas didn't happen.
Still closed if what I read about windows 10 store is true
There is no way the console market is getting sold on this idea. Bank on it. If anything, the knowledge that a hardware refresh is only a couple years away will sell fewer consoles.
People buy consoles because they're affordable and because they've resisted the slow encroachment of planned obsolescence. This is an idea that puts Microsoft's goals for a console ahead of the consumer's.
People buy consoles because they're affordable and because they've resisted the slow encroachment of planned obsolescence. This is an idea that puts Microsoft's goals for a console ahead of the consumer's.
SneakersSO
Member
See, with PC, its different. And yes, considering how ridiculous some PC ports for games that focused on consoles have been performing on PC these last 2 years, there are many devs who have had nothing but headaches on PC.
At least with PC, there is a constant 100+ million marketshare I can sell my games to, thus making supporting a broad range of CPUs/GPUs worth it. Even if we give this plan the benefit of the doubt, and say 50% of the current X1 user base upgrades to the X1.2 within the first 12 months, bringing it to about ~10 million users, why should I eat the cost on developing a whole other version of the game out to natively run on that lower install base? Its going to be a lot of extra work. Unless MS is willing to eat some of the cost, i'd just continue supporting X1.
I wonder if Microsoft's recent patent for a modular PC are part of the long-term roadmap for an upgradable Xbox.
ViolentP
Member
Yes. My PC builds tend to last 5+ years and I only upgrade because I am personally interested in building. My understanding was a big reason people stuck to consoles was the ease of use. They often cited they did not want to deal with patches, and hardware upgrades. Will they adapt, or look for alternative console offerings?