Six features we expect from Microsoft's next Xbox
Call it Xbox 720. Call it Xbox Infinity. You can even call it Durango, for that's its internal codename at Microsoft. Whatever, the next Xbox (or Xbox Next, as we'll call it in this piece) is on its way. Microsoft is absolutely not discussing the subject, but the cluster of games releasing early 2013 and the deafening silence from summer onwards, plus unending industry gossip, suggests an E3 reveal and a Christmas release. Based on the best available facts, a little inside knowledge and a few of the most realistic rumours, here's a little entirely unofficial guesswork from Jeremy Laird on what to expect from the most important new gaming device of the next decade.
1. A more powerful CPU
What was once cutting-edge, courtesy of three processor cores and one of the first graphics processors with unified shaders, is now beginning to bump up against the imaginations of game designers.
On the CPU side, there are three obvious options in terms of processor core design: ARM, as used in smartphones; the x86 tech used in PCs and the original Xbox; or PowerPC, the CPU used in the Xbox 360. In many ways, it doesn't matter. All three architectures are more than capable of getting the job done. The only issue is backwards compatibility for existing Xbox 360 titles - something that Microsoft's unlikely to sacrifice, in these budget-conscious times - which could be solved by including some PowerPC cores.
Our bet is four x86 or PowerPC cores running at between 2GHz and 4GHz depending. But it's not the CPU cores that will do most to transform Xbox Next's gaming prowess. Nope, that'll be graphics and memory.
2. A high-capacity optical drive
With Xbox 360 games now routinely coming on multiple DVDs, Blu-ray is the likely choice for the Xbox Next's optical drive. It's Sony tech, which will sting a bit, but it can store huge amounts of data and is a lot cheaper than it used to be. But with games increasingly being delivered and played online, does it actually need one?
Yes, is the short answer - spotty broadband provision means the world isn't yet ready for a console that delivers games exclusively online. One plausible option is two versions, one with and one without Blu-ray, the former eventually being phased out.
3. Augmented reality headset
Headsets that provide augmented reality functionality have shown up in leaked Microsoft documentation, and are being extensively investigated by the notoriously forward-looking folks at Valve. It's likely to debut as an optional extra rather than a mandatory install, but the potential is enormous, from seeing yourself interact with game worlds to in-game characters coming into your living room.
While the standard controller is unlikely to go anywhere, it might be joined by a new touchscreen model. Although it could be that Microsoft continues down the SmartGlass route, and sticks to using your existing tablet or mobile phone.
4. More detailed graphics
Xbox 360 has an ATI 3D chip that's still doing a remarkably good job. But seven years is an eternity in graphics chip design. The Xbox Next's graphics processor will be a huge step forward. The minimum target is super-smooth performance at full 1080p HD resolution, something the Xbox 360 doesn't always achieve.
We know the graphics will be supplied by AMD, and we expect it to be based on AMD's latest Radeon HD 7000 graphics architecture. It probably won't have the raw grunt of AMD's most powerful graphics chip, the 7970, but the more streamlined and game-optimised nature of Xbox Next compared to PC will ensure it punches well above its weight.
Stunning graphics are a given. But look out for incredibly detailed object and character surfaces thanks to support for a triangle-bashing technology known as tessellation. It's a feature that allows for orders of magnitude more geometric detail than the Xbox 360 can muster.
5. A lot more memory
CPUs and graphics chips grab all the headlines when it comes to new games console specs. But if anything is holding Xbox 360 back, it's memory limitations. The console's CPU and graphics chip share just 512MB between them.
That's a serious limitation for devs creating larger and more detailed game worlds. But it's not just how much memory the Xbox 360 has that's the problem. It's how fast it is, too. Xbox 360 has a little over 20GB-per-second of total bandwidth, for both CPU and GPU. Xbox Next will have between 4GB and 8GB and bandwidth that will very likely be well into triple-digits for GB-per-second.
The result will be the capability to render massive, lifelike worlds on a scale that Xbox 360 simply cannot contemplate. Level loading will be much less frequent, too, and simulation will take a leap forward - expect a deeper level of interaction with game worlds, once developers have got their heads around harnessing the technology.
6. Kinect 2.0
A new camera with improved accuracy and the ability to track four players is expected for Kinect 2.0. The upgrade is also expected to give your Xbox a broader field of view and the ability to track motions and gestures whether you're sitting or standing.
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Re: Six features we expect from Microsoft's next Xbox
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