Microsoft has dropped the first tease of its next-generation Xbox console, paving the underpinnings of the future of Xbox. The mysterious
Xbox Project Scarlett saw its unveiling in June at Microsoft's E3 2019 press conference, pitching a console surpassing early expectations and on track for next year.
While Redmond is keeping hardware specifics under wraps, here's what we know so far.
Xbox Project Scarlett Full Tech Specs
Project Scarlett is a central component of Microsoft's future-facing gaming efforts, positioned as its next flagship console at E3 2019. Tailing the 4K-brandished
Xbox One X, the elusive successor promises a generational shift akin to the original Xbox One debut in 2013. Development on the high-horsepower box remains underway, set to rival the Sony PlayStation 5 in 2020.
While early reports alluded to tiered Xbox consoles
dubbed "Anaconda" and "Lockhart,"Microsoft's E3 conference indicated plans have since consolidated to one device. The console aims to achieve 8K resolutions, or 4K at up to 120 frames-per-second (FPS), complemented by ray-tracing, variable refresh rate (VRR) support, and more. While Microsoft appears reluctant to share firm specifications, here's what we know in 2019.
Processor | Custom AMD Zen 2-based CPU |
Graphics | Custom AMD Navi-based GPU |
Memory | GDDR6 RAM |
Storage | Solid-state drive (SSD) |
Video output | 8K, 4K @ 120Hz |
Optical drive | ✔ |
Ports | Unknown |
Color | Unknown |
Price | Unknown |
Release date | Holiday 2020 |
Expect Xbox Project Scarlett's full specifications to stay under wraps for the months ahead, likely ahead of a full 2020 debut.
What do the Xbox Project Scarlett specs mean?
At the heart of Project Scarlett lies a custom-designed CPU founded on AMD's Zen 2 architecture. Previously behind chipsets fueling the Xbox One family, the leading U.S. manufacturer extends efforts via its latest processor technology. The Zen 2 family touts improved performance and efficiency, with Project Scarlett poised to deliver
four times the CPU power of Xbox One X. With the current Xbox flagship heavily reliant on its GPU advancements, Scarlett's revamped system-on-chip (SoC) helps alleviate a primary bottleneck.
A Navi-based GPU flanks the Zen 2 brains, powered by AMD's latest wave of graphics technologies. It assembles a formidable SoC for next-generation gaming, with the added capabilities of "hardware-accelerated" ray tracing. NVIDIA has already drawn eyes with its
GeForce RTX GPU lineup's real-time ray tracing capabilities, and both Microsoft and Sony are set to follow suit. We also expect the Project Scarlett to embrace HDMI 2.1 to output its promised 8K resolution or 4K at 120 Hz.
High-bandwidth GDDR6 RAM also makes the cut, an expected but welcomed addition to bolster horsepower. Digital Foundry
unearthed traces of Samsung-fabricated 14gbps modules in the Scarlett reveal, despite efforts to otherwise shroud specifications.
Microsoft's added commitment to solid-state drive (SSD) storage is an understated and vital final inclusion under Scarlett. Microsoft details "a new generation of SSDs," alluding to a form of proprietary setup tailored to the console. Early testing has seen a 40 times performance increase over existing Xbox One family, attributed to improved read and write times. Faster overall storage brings huge gains, drastically slicing load times and installations.
The result is a future-facing console build on strong foundations, already boasting 8K 120 FPS gaming with variable refresh rate (VRR) support. Paired with the benefits of SSD storage, Scarlett establishes promising foundations for the next generation of consoles.
Project Scarlett is slated to launch in the 2020 holiday season, alongside first-person shooter blockbuster, Halo: Infinite.