Mirrored: 24th of November 2011, 17:09 Original: www.eurogamer.net Views: 94 Settings: Loading the mirror...
Link: canonical Eurogamer.net * Making an XBLA Game: The Inside Story Eurogamer investigates. * Eurogamer's Skyrim Podcast Skyrim! Skyrim! More Skyrim! * Sign in Create an account Login with Facebook Username _____________________ Password _____________________ [ Log in ] Forgotten your details? Loading...hold tight! * Home * Reviews * News * Videos * EGTV Show * Digital Foundry * GameDB * Release Dates * EG Expo * Forum _____________________ [ ] * News Xbox 360 Microsoft plans two versions of its next Xbox - rumour By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 24 November, 2011 One like a set-top box, the other aimed at the hardcore. Tweet Microsoft plans to launch two very different versions of the next Xbox, according to a Digital Foundry report on GamesIndustry.biz. The first is described as a "pared down machine" to be released as cheaply as possible. It is likened to a set-top box, and will act as a Kinect-themed gaming portal. The second is a "more fully-featured machine" with optical drive, hard disk and backwards compatibility. This would be aimed at hardcore gamers and released at a higher price-point. Kinect, Digital Foundry has heard, will be bundled with both SKUs. Next-generation talk has ramped up in recent weeks, with Edge reporting that the next Xbox will launch late next year. Digital Foundry believes this is unlikely, however, suggesting a 2013 launch. The console is rumoured to be set for a reveal at E3 2012. Edge claimed Ubisoft Montreal is currently developing software using "target boxes" - PCs containing off-the-shelf components provided by Microsoft - and that true dev kits will be available before the end of the year. The report added that a number of other developers also have the target boxes, including a number of EA studios. French site Xboxygen reported that Microsoft plans to unveil its next console at the CES show in Las Vegas in January 2012. * About Kinect * Packshot for Kinect on Xbox 360 Follow 107 followers * * Release date 10/11/2010 * Publisher Microsoft * Developer Microsoft * More about Kinect * Kinect Review * Screenshots: The Kinect-alike WAVI Xtion * Video: Microsoft showcases Kinect potential video * Related game pages * Kinect on Xbox 360 * * Like us! Tweet Picture of Wesley. About Wesley Yin-Poole Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it. You may also like... * The Lord of the Rings: War in the North Review Bored of the rings. * To the Moon Review And beyond. * Serious Sam 3: BFE Review Blast from the past. * Where to now? * More News * More Xbox 360 articles * Home Comments (27) Latest comment 35s ago * Order * Oldest * Newest * Best * Worst * Score * -25 * -10 * -1 * 0 * +1 * +10 * +25 Log in or register to post a comment! * Astro-Creature #1 47min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show So they are going to piss off developers again by releasing one without a HDD? * [IMG] +11 [IMG] * Kano-11 #2 44min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show What happened to the days of just releasing 1 machine which does everything and not gimping the consumer out of important features such as HDD size and backwards compatibility? * [IMG] +10 [IMG] * darkmorgado #3 44min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show @Astro-Creature Well the simple way around that is to make a distinction between the the two SKUs and consider them as separate platforms, with separate brandings for games (similar to the whole "Only with Kinect" stamp on Kinect games). * [IMG] +2 [IMG] * PaulieWaulie #4 42min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show @darkmorgado That's how I inferred the concept, does make sense in many ways. * [IMG] +6 [IMG] * Collymilad #5 41min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show @Astro-Creature Did you read it? One will be a shovelware portal and the other will be a proper games console. I doubt the shovelware will need a HDD. * [IMG] +3 [IMG] * Al_Swearengen #6 41min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show @Astro-Creature No not really. It's suggested that the cheaper version would not have an optical drive meaning that it would be XBLA titles only. So really what we're are looking it is two completely different devices under the XBOX brand. I think even Microsoft must realise that their 'Arcade' SKU wasn't the best idea from the developers perspective. Edited by 1 at 24/11/11 @ 15:29 * [IMG] +1 [IMG] * JodSUMO #7 40min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show There were similar rumours before the 360 launch that didn't come to anything. I remember one of the SKUs was supposed to be an Xbox 360 PC. * [IMG] 0 [IMG] * MENTAL1ST Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #8 39min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show That's just slapping together the two last rumours, of "Xbox Loop" the low-end one and the xbox 360 successor they're supposedly working on at Ubisoft. I find the notion of a low-end, casual xbox hard to believe. I would have though that MS would rather support Kinect in Windows 8, and let the Nettop crowd take the risks involved in releasing such devices. * [IMG] +1 [IMG] Verified * Machetazo #9 35min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show It's a strange solution to an overly cluttered and unintuitive dashboard. Edited by 1 at 24/11/11 @ 15:35 * [IMG] -6 [IMG] * FogHeart #10 32min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show They should sell three bits of kit - basic, a big expansion pack that plugs into the basic kit and gives it the hard drive and optical disc drive, and a system that includes both for less cost than the two together, thus providing an upgrade path for the basic version. If you system gets broken, no loss of installed data, just replace the basic unit. Or they can improve the basic unit over time with things like new wireless tech, or screen outputs. Wireless screen output will come sometime next gen for example. * [IMG] -1 [IMG] * GamesProgrammer Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #11 28min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show These reads like the basic one doesn't have a Optical drive or a HDD, so unless its streaming games like OnLive it doesnt make alot of sense, sureley it will have a storage device in it for the games of some kind. * [IMG] 0 [IMG] Verified * OllyJ #12 25min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show A set top box one with no optical drive would "HAVE" to have a large HDD, there would be no getting around that. * [IMG] +1 [IMG] * Buztafen #13 25min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show Personally i think this is a smart move by MS if its true. It wont alienate their main customer base and it'll offer a cheaper gateway for people who aren't sure what they want. As ever though, it all hinges on the price points they come up with for both SKU's. * [IMG] +1 [IMG] * Darren #14 24min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show I really hope the next Xbox doesn't suffer from Microsoft's desire to please the casual market as I'm personally not interested in Kinect so I hope it remains a separate option from launch rather than becoming an integral part of the machine. That way people who want to play Kinect games can and the rest of us can just ignore them in favour of 'proper' core titles. The last thing I want is another games console that disappointed me as much as the Wii did, granted it does have some superb games in the form of Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2 and Zelda: Skyward Sword. I don't think Microsoft would risk that but who knows as I never expected Nintendo to turn their backs on their core gamers and they pretty much did that (plus admitted they had too). * [IMG] +2 [IMG] * ubergine #15 23min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show God damnit. Hard drive as standard or die screaming in a pit with George Lucas. Another generation without the potential benefits of hard drive installs would probably drive me across to Sony. * [IMG] 0 [IMG] * Buztafen #16 22min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show I wonder if MS and Sony will be going with SSD's for storage on their next systems. Might make sense what with the Thai floods causing HDD supply problems for the foreseeable future and SSD's being not that much more expensive these days. * [IMG] 0 [IMG] * RodHull #17 22min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show No no no no NOOO! The Arcade and Pro SKU nonsense with the 360 was bad enough, with the likes of Bungie bemoaning a lack of standard HDD. This is going to confuse consumers. Hopefully the rumours are faff and nonsense and MS will release a shrunken 360 alongside the next machine, like Sony didwith the PS2 Slim. That seemed to do okay. * [IMG] 0 [IMG] * TaniumZX #18 21min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show Think I will drop Xbox next generation then. I do not want to pay a premium to have Kinect bundled in with my 'hardcore' system. Have not got the space, does not interest me, wont get used. Miscosoft are just annoying now. * [IMG] -2 [IMG] * carlitoswagon #19 19min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show Makes sense. Why saddle people with the cost of added console features they will never use. Helps push the stripped back version into a cheaper market for the masses. * [IMG] 0 [IMG] * Britesparc #20 18min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show I think this is one of those rumours that will turn out to be crap, like the "removable hard drive that functions as an MP3 player" rumour from the 360 launch. Will MS have two SKUs at launch? I wouldn't be surprised. But a casual-friendly box would surely need to have an optical drive, for the whole grandparents-buying-an-easy-Christmas-present-for-Little-Johnny market. Much simpler to pick up Disneyland Adventures from Tesco than buy 4200 MS Points from Game or something. * [IMG] 0 [IMG] * Flipper79 #21 16min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show One of the key aspects consoles have over the pc market is simplicity. I kinda wish they would keep it that way. One console with an optical drive and enough hard disk space to make it practical to install games for a realistic amount of time. If they further seperate the 'arcade' and 'elite' versions, and continue conning their way into getting people to trade in for newer versions of the same thing with slightly more hard disk space and extra connectivity possibilities I'm just gonna stick with what I can do on the pc. * [IMG] +1 [IMG] * Brev2034 #22 16min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show @ubergine but not all games can be installed to the ps3 * [IMG] 0 [IMG] * Der_tolle_Emil #23 7min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show A more 'casual' oriented Xbox makes perfect sense for me but from a totally different perspective: Microsoft is trying to push into the living room. It will be a media center extender that also plays XBLA titles. Gaming will not be the primary focus with this device - the goal is to set foot in living rooms. * [IMG] 0 [IMG] * FireMonkey #24 7min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show @FogHeart - That reminds me of the expansions I had on my old Acorn Electron. http://home.iae.nl/users/bverhoev/Expansions/ELKexpand.jpg * [IMG] 0 [IMG] * TigerX81 #25 5min ago Comment below viewing threshold Show @OllyJ Except MS have been rumoured to be working on Cloud-Based which could mean the cheaper box streamed instead which is most likely. * [IMG] 0 [IMG] * Syrette #26 35s ago Comment below viewing threshold Show If Kinect is the focus of the next Xbox then I simply won't be buying one. I play games to relax, not to be active. Same for Sony and the PS4 if they were to focus on Move, but that's extremely unlikely. * [IMG] 0 [IMG] Reply: user ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ [ Reply ] Cancel Comment successfully posted! Thanks! * * Mobile * Portable * HD * Home Staff Contact us Policy centre Corporate site * Twitter [IMG] RSS * The Eurogamer Network * * Eurogamer.be * Eurogamer.cz * Eurogamer.de * Eurogamer.dk * Eurogamer.es * Eurogamer.fr * Eurogamer.it * Eurogamer.net * Eurogamer.nl * Eurogamer.pt * Eurogamer.se * [IMG] [IMG] [IMG] [IMG] [IMG] [IMG] *