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[LordRaptor]

Steam doesn't off movies, music, and other apps.

It does, actually

 

[Ethelwulf]

I predict:

Xbox One S starting at 399 with upgraded hardware.
Traditional Xbox One at 249.

Iteration repeated for now on.

 

[Blackthorn]

If there was complete backwards compatibility and upgrades every two years, I could get behind this model.

If it's annual, I don't see it working for consumer or the manufacturer. Phones can refresh yearly because there's a constant demand, I'm not sure the gaming market is large enough to justify the R&D costs and potential fragmentation - and, selfishly, I don't want the worry of upgrading every year. It's antithetical to the entire reason I own a console.

Interesting times ahead, either way.

 

[Kill3r7]

I wonder how much this will cost? The writing has been on the wall for a while. I am interested to see how this turns out.

 

[nullpoynter]

I'm done with consoles if they start doing hardware upgrades (that affect performance) before the end of a generation. The advantage of consoles is that they stay stable throughout their lifetime. If I want upgrades I'll just go completely with the PC.

 

[SliceSabre]

Now that's an interesting direction to go.

Its called the Xbox One because it is the only one you will need.

 

[ekim]

Another article on that:
http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/03...ith-pc-gaming?abthid=56d5a7f564ba278130000004

 

[PetriP-TNT]

The notation of that consoles are supposed to have like 7 to 10 year lifecycle is friggin' ridiculous.

 

[LukasTaves]

I knew this was coming. Good to know it won't be long.

They need to get everyone on board though. Everyone should start developing games as uwas right now!

 

[The Flash]

Could work

 

[Zaventem]

3DS already showed it's possible. I believe it can happen.

 

[Toadthemushroom]

Urg I really don't want the Apple model coming to consoles.

The Apple model has been fine once they reached a certain critical point of hardware that's "good enough" for forward compatibility. For example, the iPad 2 has been kicking around for 5 years now, which is the same time as the 3DS, enough for a hardware generation. It's no coincidence that the Apple A5/A5X SoCs are similar to Vita's -- the hardware has long legs for what it is.

Newer hardware's even better at that. And by the time each "generation" is over, developers target the next (now, anything with an ARM v8, 64 bit Apple A7 or better from 2013 seems to be the main target)

 

[Dee Dah Dave]

Releasing a new console with full backwards compatibility accomplishes exactly what he is saying. This is just clever double talk around them working furiously on a new console for 2018 would be my guess.

Yeah that sounds about right.

I just cant see console gaming taking on the business model that mobile and tablet use to great success.

I mean some people would use it sure, but I doub't the majority would. Unless it's closer to new hardware every 4 years or so, that might work. Otherwise you might aswell just get a PC and buy a new GPU for it every 12 to 18 months.

More likely though, I think this is first news that an Xbox One replacement is already in the works, and probably to be released in the next couple of years. Full backwards compatability with the XB1 and full Win 10 support.

 

[jabberwocker]

Play new halo need new console. Next year play new Gears need new console. Repeat. Unless they have some thing where the games must run on like consoles that are 3-4 years back this is going to end horribly for parents everywhere.

If they are bringing the games to PC which it sounds they are then I am done with the console brand personally.

Sorry, but when I buy a console I expect the first-party manufacturer to support it with games that take advantage of the hardware for at least 3-4 years.

When you add in the possibility of annual hardware upgrades as well as the reality of PC/Xbox cross-development, this goes away.

No real reason for a gamer to buy an Xbox unless you just want cheaper, mediocre access to PC games. That's not the "console" market I want to be a part of.

Couldnt have said it better myself =p

 

[APZonerunner]

I don't want to buy every year new hardware, ugh. This is why I never get around buying new PC parts! I always want the best, but there's always something new.

You need to be able to let go of having the 'latest' one, though. Like, the model Microsoft is chasing here is the model Apple has had success with in iPads and the like; they release a new one every 12 to 18 months, but upgrading isn't required until the one you have is 4 or 5 years old. You can still run pretty much everything that's released now on the app store on a 2011 iPad 2, for instance, but if you choose to upgrade you'll get better performance and more features. Eventually, the iPad 2 will be phased out from software support and people who want newer stuff will need to upgrade - but by the time that moment comes, it'll be the end of a 'traditional' console cycle anyway, right?

 

[Glitchesarecool]

In addition to the Windows Store Xbox exclusives, Steam doesn't off movies, music, and other apps.

Actually Steam does have movies and music. It's certainly a smaller selection but it's expanding.

 

[Sydle]

It does, actually

Not very much.

Even if that grows then MS still gets more Windows users. As long as they create good exclusives then people would still have to buy from the Windows Store.

IDK, seems like the path to more hardware sales would be taking down the walls and letting people buy from multiple storefronts.

 

[Guerrilla]

Give me a 20€ a month subscription and free hardware that is switched out every 2 years. Always stay 100% BC. I would be 100% fine with that.

 

[soundscream]

I can only see this working if they sell a modular system that you can upgrade piecemeal or if they offer some steep discount for trading it in to them. The modular version is kind of why PC works in a changing environment, so I don't need to rebuild my computer every few years.

Or I suppose as long as they make sure that a game will run on all versions of an Xbone system. But god can you imagine the number of devkits and potential problems that would arise in bug testing each version?

This could be very interesting or a burning train wreck the likes of which we've never seen.

A larger Alienware Alpha so you can upgrade the GPU is what it needs to be.

 

[Graphics Horse]

I don't think this would be a yearly thing. Maybe every 2 or 3 years. They could pull this off well.

Agreed. Could see this happening around the third anniversary seeing as he's taking about it.

 

[PtM]

People here may be excited about the news, but won't this just encourage the entire casual market to head over to PlayStation?

They won't see it coming.

 

[PumpkinSpice]

Nintendo with the NX in 2016.

Microsoft with a new Xbox every year starting 2016 or 2017.

What's Sony's move here? Do they stick it out with generations? Do they keep the PS4 going longer than a 4th year with the competition launching early?

 

[AmyS]

PR talk.

It never ever ever ever works.

 

[Ragona]

I understand the idea behind this all and think its all ok, but:
If theres 4 different xbox ones out there and devs want their games to work on all 4 of them + ps4 (plus their refreshes?) + NXes... Wouldnt they need to optimise for like 10 platforms?

 

[gamz]

Man, I've been hoping for this for years. Waiting around 5-10 years for a hardware revision is brutal.

 

[bishbosh]

This is an interesting idea if they can pull it off, I do wonder where that would leave Sony and Nintendo, surely they would have to follow a similar model

 

[wapplew]

MS once again, leading the console revolution.

 

[dose]

This is awesome

Nah, this is terrible. I don't want to be upgrading my console every year or so, that's the whole point of a console. I'm out if true. I imagine devs will hate it too.

 

[ironcreed]

The notation of that consoles are supposed to have like 7 to 10 year lifecycle is friggin' ridiculous.

So is buying a new one every year to me.

 

[AmFreak]

The question is how often.
If it is done every >=4 years there isn't really a difference between an "upgrade" and a new console with bc.
If they do it more often, depending on the year the hardware upgrade will become meaningless.

 

[Backfoggen]

If you think about it, it makes sense considering how sad console hardware is at a certain point in the generation. No idea how they'd do it though.

 

[Ol No Bones]

Man, I've been hoping for this for years. Waiting around 5-10 years for a hardware revision is brutal.

I'm with you. I like the console model and would totally update every couple years.

 

[onQ123]

New Xb1 SKU on the horizon?

This could get complicated

It's called a Windows 10 PC/STB

 

[bud23]

That's a terrible idea

 

[bishbosh]

I understand the idea behind this all and think its all ok, but:
If theres 4 different xbox ones out there and devs want their games to work on all 4 of them + ps4 (plus their refreshes?) + NXes... Wouldnt they need to optimise for like 10 platforms?

Maybe it would work like current PC games, games would run at different settings depending on which hardware you had, medium, high, ultimate etc

 

[CryptiK]

I don't see this happening like we think its going to happen. As in No KB+M Support for games. Actually this isn't going to happen period.

 

[TurboButts]

FTFY



They could easily have a settings profile for the Xbox One and the new hardware. Same game would run on both.

Stupid to get upset at this point.

Do you think all of this would be worth the hassle of explaining to their audience why their new games look worse on their console than they look on the TV commercial, and all the negative press they'd surely get over this? I don't think upgrading their hardware suddenly gets them back in the race.

 

[PetriP-TNT]

So is buying a new one every year to me.

How often do you upgrade your mobile phone? Do you expect to have the same features that the new flagship phone has say 3 to 4 years after yours launched?

 

[Zombie James]

You need to be able to let go of having the 'latest' one, though. Like, the model Microsoft is chasing here is the model Apple has had success with in iPads and the like; they release a new one every 12 to 18 months, but upgrading isn't required until the one you have is 4 or 5 years old. You can still run pretty much everything that's released now on the app store on a 2011 iPad 2, for instance, but if you choose to upgrade you'll get better performance and more features. Eventually, the iPad 2 will be phased out from software support and people who want newer stuff will need to upgrade - but by the time that moment comes, it'll be the end of a 'traditional' console cycle anyway, right?

Then what's the point? All this plan seems to accomplish is burdening developers (who have a hard enough time as it is making games for 2-3 platforms) and potentially confusing consumers.

 

[justsomeguy]

So how does it work?

Let's say they release 3 versions of it.
Gears X comes out.
Does it run on every console or just the 2 more powerful? Is it optimised for every console (devs am cry)?
Does it work like ipads and when your console is 3-4 years old you're not eligible to the new updates and therefore, new releases?

I hope they have a solid plan for this.

+1. As long as my console stays relevant for 5 years (= can play all AAA releases in that 5 year period) I'm happy.

 

[Widge]

Window 10 box

This. No more hardware, eventually no more game development. They want to be Valve.

 

[SerTapTap]

I understand the idea behind this all and think its all ok, but:
If theres 4 different xbox ones out there and devs want their games to work on all 4 of them + ps4 (plus their refreshes?) + NXes... Wouldnt they need to optimise for like 10 platforms?

IMO how MS is going to handle the games (Xbox 1.5 exclusives vs Better On Xbox 1.5) and how their software supports that is more relevant than just "new hardware iterations". The New 3DS kind of shows how hard this can fail--there's almost nothing special for New 3DS. The only benefits I've gotten are the nub for MM3D and the ZLZR buttons for Dark Witch 2 (I don't have MH4 or Xenoblade, the two biggest incentives IMO).

They'd need to make this work almost effort-free for developers or support could be really weird/non-existent like...basically every other console that's attempted this.

Like it would probably be easier for MS to just brand an Xbox One line of Windows living room PCs than to support devs to make hundreds of games better on each new revision.

 

[GHG]

It's the Apple model of doing things.

It requires a different way of thinking compared to what we are used to in the console space. If they do it right and space the upgrades out accordingly I don't see why it wouldn't work.

 

[mrklaw]

Never ever has it worked.

not for consoles, but its common in phones and tablets. It could work this time around - the architecture is stable (x86). The cost for software publishers wouldn't be huge to support an Xbox 2 which is forward/backward compatible running PC games at higher res etc.

 

[KevinG]

Why not just build a PC? Control your hardware upgrades?

I'm not buying Xbox iterations and feeling limited when they release the upgraded version a year later.

I love consoles. I'm a console gamer, but this might be the final nail in the coffin. I'll likely just move on and build a PC and let that be where I game.

 

[Simply Sami]

Well, they won't have my support. I buy dedicated video game hardware to avoid having to worry about updating for five or six years. If this is your thing, more power to you, but I'm out.

I'm with you. Surprised at positive comments. If you wanna upgrade every year then buy a PC.

 

[Ol No Bones]

The question is how often.
If it is done every >=4 years there isn't really a difference between an "upgrade" and a new console with bc.
If they do it more often, depending on the year the hardware upgrade will become meaningless.

Then skip a revision every once in a while. No big deal. I get a phone every 2-3 years even though upgrades are annual.

 

[CyclopsRock]

For this to work, they have to create their next console in a modular format, similar to swapping out a new HDD or the new phones recently.

Without plug and play hardware parts, you'd have to be buying complete boxes at a cost rather than a smaller charge for a module to upgrade your current box. That's the only way I can see this working, it's baffling.

I think that latter idea is the point and that it'll work sort of like phones, where you *can* buy the latest when it comes our but ge really you'll buy a high end phone, ride it out for a few years (as the quality of games improves but the performance of your phone deteriorates), then you upgrade. Mobile games - especially on iPhone which have far fewer hardware varients than Android - tend to target the last X-years worth of handsets with different settings for each for the best experience - like multi-generational games when we get a new console cycle - so that you won't always have to have the latest hardware.

The question really comes down to how long developers would support older hardware. If they support the last 5 annual iterations, that's not so far away from the existing console life time, only with the benefit of you being able to upgrade earlier if you want to. The obvious downside is that it prohibits developers from utilising new hardware features or designing mechanics that *require* high power if it means limiting their audience.

I don't really know where I stand on it. I see the pros, I see the cons.

 

[Daffy Duck]

Phil Spencer:

I look at the ecosystem that a console sits in and I think that it should have the capability of more iteration on hardware capability. Sony is doing this with VR and adding VR capabilities mid-cycle to the PlayStation 4 and they are doing that by adding another box. I don't mean that as a negative. But it's not changing what the core console is about.

For consoles in general it's more important now than it's ever been, because you have so many of these other platforms that are around. It used to be that when you bought your console you were way ahead of the price performance curve by so much, relative to a PC. But now PCs are inexpensive and your phones are getting more and more capable.

I still think a console is the best price to performance deal that is out there but when you look at the evolution ... I'm not going to announce our road map for hardware ... but what I wanted to say on stage for people when they see this vision of ours and question our commitment to console I want to make sure that people see that what we are doing enables us to be more committed to what consoles are about than we've ever been and innovate more consistently than we ever have. That's the key for me."

Certainly looks like they are lining things up to go this route. Really not sure how I feel about it.

 

[Spirited]

Too late. The Windows 10 store adds all sorts of anti-PC-gaming garbage to all games by default.

Yup, let's hope not many devs get trapped in their system