Microsoft Confirms Next-Gen Xbox Announcement for May 21st

[16-bit]

Everything is cheaper if you buy used. It's still cheap to buy Xbox 360 games used too.

The Xbox 360 didn't release with last-gen hardware performance levels. The Wii U will be up against modern hardware.

Here's Nintendo's latest terrible advertising. "Upgrading" is emphasized:

"See why families are upgrading!"

Well they certainly aren't upgrading for the damned games. Seriously, the biggest thing they have going for it in the near future is that Earthbound is coming to the Virtual Console. Which isn't even that big of a deal in the first place. Nintendo has no idea what they're doing anymore do they?

The last AAA console they made was the SNES...

[maxi]

The only thing that I will probably buy in this generation is Vita, but only when it receives more good games and Sony stop pretending that the system is doing well and secretly pray for god every day to send a producer with a system seller like Monster Hunter.
Until then I'm more than happy with my new PC and PSP.

[Da_Shocker]

http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/04/...portedly-outed

According to Thurrott, previous rumors that there will be two versions of the next Xbox are no longer accurate. He notes that Microsoft “originally planned to offer both a ‘full’ version of the next Xbox (with video game playing capabilities) and a lower-end entertainment-oriented version, code-named ‘Yuma,’ that didn't provide gaming capabilities.” However, “plans for Yuma are on hold, and no pure entertainment version of the next Xbox will appear in 2013 (or possibly ever).”

Good

Thurrott notes that the rumored “always online” functionality of the next Xbox is correct. He notes that “the next Xbox must be Internet-connected to use. This is the source of the ‘always on’/’always online’ rumors and isn’t as Draconian as many seem to believe.”

Bad

Following up on his report earlier this month, Thurrott reiterated that “Microsoft will initially offer two pricing models for the console: a standalone version for $499 and a $299 version that requires a two-year Xbox LIVE Gold commitment at an expected price of $10 per month.” He also reports that the system “will launch in early November 2013.”

Eh no thanks

In terms of backwards compatibility, he once again noted that he believes Microsoft will “also deliver a third-generation Xbox 360 console this year that will be significantly less expensive than the current models.” The system is codenamed “Stingray” and Thurrott says “it’s not clear whether this device is required because the next Xbox isn’t backward-compatible or because Microsoft simply wants a low-cost entertainment box alternative.” As a third possibility, he also notes that since the Xbox 360 is still selling well, Microsoft may simply want a low-cost option since the system has become significantly cheaper to manufacture compared to its launch in 2005.

Yawn

Building on rumors that Windows 8 could power the next Xbox, Thurrott writes that the system is “based on the ‘Core’ (base) version of Windows 8. This suggests a common apps platform or at least one that is similar to that used by Windows 8.” He also believes that Microsoft “could open up this platform to enthusiast developers” and reports that the company “will discuss the next Xbox developer platform at the Build conference in San Francisco in late June.” The Build conference is also where Microsoft is expected to unveil Windows 8.1.

Thurrott also confirmed previous rumors that the next Xbox will include a Blu-Ray optical drive.

If I do get a new console this year more than likely it will be a PS4.

[MrSega]

The 5200 and Colecovision entered the market during a time when home computers were becoming very popular. They really didn't stand a chance against the far superior games being offered on those home computers at that time.

When I said: "Nintendo was pulling an Atari", I meant that they really didn't enforce quality control over the games that were being released on the Wii. Atari's failure to control the content on the 2600, would have a later effect on how the consumers percieved the 5200's offerings, and consoles in general, but it was Atari's failure to adapt to the changing gaming market that would doom them in the end. Yes, the Wii U in some ways is following the same kind of trail that the 2600 setup for the 5200, but the Wii U also has issues with being very weak hardware overall and having a very poorly handled online solution compared to the competition. The 5200 and Colecovision failed, because the market had moved to home computers. The Wii U is failing, because Nintendo is offering a console that doesn't have enticing software, hardware that doesn't improve upon what is currently being offered by MS and Sony, and a lack of 3rd party support that would make it appealing to consumers. The big difference between the 5200 and the Wii U, is that the retail market decided the fate of the 5200, while the consumer market had made up their mind about Nintendo's console from day 1.

Its interesting that you mention the Colecovision. It wasn't a failure per say, it died with the '84 crash.

It was actually a whole lot like Dreamcast, when you think about.

[EclecticGroove]

http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/04/...portedly-outed



Good



Bad



Eh no thanks



Yawn



If I do get a new console this year more than likely it will be a PS4.

I think I'll wait till Ms makes an actual announcement, a opposed to confirmations by a "veteran tech blogger".

People were posting doom and gloom about the PS4 as well, and it turned out to be a reasonable piece of hardware so far.

I don't really expect MS to buck the trend yet, they were arguably the overall winner last gen, but it wasn't exactly a crushing success. Nintendo slipping their early meteoric success let them catch up, and Sony making a come back from their early foibles let them close the gap with MS.

Not that they won't make some blunder, it's just I won't assume DOOOOOOOOM until they announce it themselves.

[gamevet]

Its interesting that you mention the Colecovision. It wasn't a failure per say, it died with the '84 crash.

The crash started in 1983 and would reach nationwide by 1984.

The CV only sold about 2 million units; The 1st million were sold within 1 year. Yeah, the crash was a part of the reason why the Colecovision died, but it was Coleco's investment in the Adam computer that led to them exiting the market, with losses of $80 million attributed to the Adam.

It was actually a whole lot like Dreamcast, when you think about.

That's a bit of a stretch. Donkey Kong was a major title for the console, but it wasn't enough to sustain sales of the Colecovision. Home computers had saturated the market, leaving very little disposable income for the inferior consoles. Large retail chains like Toys R' Us disposed of the consoles, in favor of selling home computers (big sellers) like the C-64. The Adam was meant to be Coleco's solution to the popularity of computers, but it was a botched product that led to their exit from the videogame market.

[FuturePrimitive]

Sounds like the new Xbox will be many awful decisions packed with Windows 8 garbage. Now they include a Blu-Ray drive which the PlayStation 3 set the standard for. Just like the Playstation 2 and the DVD capability. I'm still in the camp that believes the Dreamcast would've been a shoo-in competitor if it had DVD, but that's another story.

Consumers are stupid and will buy the new Xbox even if the PS4 is lightyears ahead.

[Knuckle Duster]

Sounds like the new Xbox will be many awful decisions packed with Windows 8 garbage. Now they include a Blu-Ray drive which the PlayStation 3 set the standard for. Just like the Playstation 2 and the DVD capability. I'm still in the camp that believes the Dreamcast would've been a shoo-in competitor if it had DVD, but that's another story.

Consumers are stupid and will buy the new Xbox even if the PS4 is lightyears ahead.

PS3 pushed Blu-ray. Xbox 360 pushed a fully featured Xbox Live, Games On Demand, Party chat, Achievements.

There's no indication that either console will be much different this time around. The PS4 will be ambitious and clunky, the Xbox will be more user friendly due to Windows and a ton of Microsoft services people already know how to use.

Sony's supporting a modified DirectX 11 API, and it's likely they'll both be running PC ports. Valve's going to enter the market with their own hardware and clones.

We can call the consumer stupid as much as we want. I think Microsoft's going to pay for the 3rd party exclusives that matter, and lock their brand to other things that really matter, like ESPN, HBO and UFC on demand channels. All they need to do is reform a few policies on content updates, and indies will flock back to them if they're dominant platform anyway. Going forward, selling the 360 "Stingray" as an add-on, leads me to believe there will be an overhaul for existing 360 owners as well, making Xbox Live itself a better all around media platform.


It's cool to hate Microsoft, because we pay for Xbox Live Gold and they stopped spending money on awesome games once the recession hit. I wouldn't let that cloud my judgement on what they are truly capable of if they want to launch a brand new platform. They are going to bend over backwards to kiss everybody's ass and make you want their product. It will be more casual friendly than the Playstation, yet have every hardcore game franchise you could want or expect, including sports games. (Rumored EA partnership.)

I think Sony's PS4 is going to be awesome but it won't be enough to dominate Xbox. Especially if EA partners up.

[FuturePrimitive]

PS3 pushed Blu-ray. Xbox 360 pushed a fully featured Xbox Live, Games On Demand, Party chat, Achievements.

Xbox Live is fine, but also flawed. For one, you cannot keep your downloaded games if you discontinue your Live subscription. Those other three aren't original, as they were taken from other sources and implemented to Xbox Live. Even the fricking Atari 2600 had achievements! I would much rather play locally as I can't afford expensive internet connections and constant subscription services.

There's no indication that either console will be much different this time around. The PS4 will be ambitious and clunky, the Xbox will be more user friendly due to Windows and a ton of Microsoft services people already know how to use.

Sony's supporting a modified DirectX 11 API, and it's likely they'll both be running PC ports. Valve's going to enter the market with their own hardware and clones.

We can call the consumer stupid as much as we want. I think Microsoft's going to pay for the 3rd party exclusives that matter, and lock their brand to other things that really matter, like ESPN, HBO and UFC on demand channels. All they need to do is reform a few policies on content updates, and indies will flock back to them if they're dominant platform anyway. Going forward, selling the 360 "Stingray" as an add-on, leads me to believe there will be an overhaul for existing 360 owners as well, making Xbox Live itself a better all around media platform.

It will be very hard to get console exclusives for Microsoft that we haven't already seen before, or are being developed for/ported to PS4.

ESPN, HBO, and UFC matter?? REALLY??

Indies are currently flocking to Sony if you've checked recent news sites! They dislike corporate Microsoft and consider Sony to be more pleasant to work with.

It's cool to hate Microsoft, because we pay for Xbox Live Gold and they stopped spending money on awesome games once the recession hit. I wouldn't let that cloud my judgement on what they are truly capable of if they want to launch a brand new platform. They are going to bend over backwards to kiss everybody's ass and make you want their product. It will be more casual friendly than the Playstation, yet have every hardcore game franchise you could want or expect, including sports games.

I think Sony's PS4 is going to be awesome but it won't be enough to dominate Xbox.

I have no intention in being "hipster" or "cool" for not being satisfied with the Xbox. I can think of my own volition. I am typing on a PC with Windows 8 and Microsoft Office for God's sake!

I have every right to be disappointed in a product due to personal experience. I like the PlayStation line, since it has never failed me in the past. My original systems are still running with no end in sight! I have no need for extra marketing and pandering, when Sony has already proved that it has the potential.

Oh YES! I want my tailgating sports games that are on every console! Pfft...

[Knuckle Duster]

Xbox Live is fine, but also flawed. For one, you cannot keep your downloaded games if you discontinue your Live subscription. Those other three aren't original, as they were taken from other sources and implemented to Xbox Live. Even the fricking Atari 2600 had achievements! I would much rather play locally as I can't afford expensive internet connections and constant subscription services.

Bullshit. Get off the drugs.

I just shut off my Gold Live subscription last week. I still play every on demand, or arcade game I bought. I can also download every game I already own. Silver subscriptions are default & free, they can be used to buy games off of Live. You can also backup your data freely onto USB storage devices after downloading them if you're afraid of Internet reliance.... Such a useless argument in this day and age.

Xbox 360 was the first platform to have your profile gamer score and in game achievements. Sony took the idea and brought in Trophy's. Who cares though, right? They suck anyway.
They added something new to the experience, there are people who buy games exclusively to tear them apart and unlock everything.

Playstation+ subscribers lose access to the games that were given to them for free... They also lose the ability to buy those 'Free' games from the PSN for money, and need to resubscribe to Plus. Why? Because it's an oversight that Sony support won't fix for the few out there who run into it. Oops!

It will be very hard to get console exclusives for Microsoft that we haven't already seen before, or are being developed for/ported to PS4.

ESPN, HBO, and UFC matter?? REALLY??

In the age where having cable or satellite TV is more and more irrelevant to people under 30? Fuck Yes! People download HBO shows or buy PPV all the time, having them on demand and on the Xbox is a no brainer.

Indies are currently flocking to Sony if you've checked recent news sites! They dislike corporate Microsoft and consider Sony to be more pleasant to work with.

Sure. But they will also flock to Windows 8 & by extention the Xbox platform, if it does get another massive install base. Hell, it'll probably overlap with current 360 base anyway. Haters gonna hate, but business is business. We don't know how Microsoft intends to reach out to indies yet.

I have no intention in being "hipster" or "cool" for not being satisfied with the Xbox. I can think of my own volition. I am typing on a PC with Windows 8 and Microsoft Office for God's sake!

I have every right to be disappointed in a product due to personal experience. I like the PlayStation line, since it has never failed me in the past. My original systems are still running with no end in sight! I have no need for extra marketing and pandering, when Sony has already proved that it has the potential.

I don't care for either brand. I just know why Microsoft has been a disappointment to me, and I expect them to fix those minor issues with their unified product line and a willingness to spend money again. The recession killed the xbox 360's focus, and they looked at building out to get that broader mainstream user who bought the Wii and is willing to buy a Tivo or Roku or other shit like that. Microsoft's endgame is to have it's brand on the default box & service network you use for all kinds of big media.

Oh YES! I want my tailgating sports games that are on every console! Pfft...

That's the point.

What if Microsoft & EA partner up so that Madden, FIFA, NHL, etc. isn't on PS4?
Even if only for a year? Think about how fucking crazy an advantage that would be to the mainstream.


I think anybody who expects this new Xbox to somehow not have a shit-ton of support, fan service, and money hatting to 3rd parties in games & other media to back it up, and make it competitive needs to get their head examined. Microsoft is huge, and they are capable enough to step up again.


Haters gonna hate, though.

[MrSega]

The crash started in 1983 and would reach nationwide by 1984.

The CV only sold about 2 million units; The 1st million were sold within 1 year. Yeah, the crash was a part of the reason why the Colecovision died, but it was Coleco's investment in the Adam computer that led to them exiting the market, with losses of $80 million attributed to the Adam.



That's a bit of a stretch. Donkey Kong was a major title for the console, but it wasn't enough to sustain sales of the Colecovision. Home computers had saturated the market, leaving very little disposable income for the inferior consoles. Large retail chains like Toys R' Us disposed of the consoles, in favor of selling home computers (big sellers) like the C-64. The Adam was meant to be Coleco's solution to the popularity of computers, but it was a botched product that led to their exit from the videogame market.

I already know when the crash started and when it bottomed out. 1984 is when people noticed it & when companies started being affected by it.

In regards to ColecoVision, what I was saying, is that it was in some ways like Dreamcast. It was cutting edge and powerful enough to handle arcade ports, it had a strong first party lineup and killer app 3rd party exclusive. Donkey Kong like Soul Calibur was the main "must buy" title.

Also like SEGA/CSK in 2000, by 1983 Coleco was running out of money, losing capital, and bleeding assets, much like CSK, Coleco had a tiny market cap and like CSK, Coleco nearly bankrupt themselves.

Had the crash not occurred, I believe Coleco would have likely filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Up until 1981, they really were lacking in business venture to make profit to grow them. For over a century, they were basically a Leather and Luggage company.

[Vector2013]

Who really gives a shit about these new consoles ? If 10 more call of duties were released on wii, 360 and ps3 or you could still watch netflix on them in 2015 people would be happy and still buy them. I don't think many are demanding new systems. 2013 or 1983 ? It's all meh to me. Maybe I'm old and just been playing my classic systems too long.

[sketch]

Who really gives a shit about these new consoles ? If 10 more call of duties were released on wii, 360 and ps3 or you could still watch netflix on them in 2015 people would be happy and still buy them. I don't think many are demanding new systems. 2013 or 1983 ? It's all meh to me. Maybe I'm old and just been playing my classic systems too long.

Rep'd for truth. There is no need for new systems. I'm happy with my PS3 and would be happy if developers focused on the creativity of their games and not just better graphics for the next gen. There's tons of games I haven't played so even when the games stop coming, I can play my PS3 for years. As I've mentioned elsewhere, the only thing that might make me upgrade is services like Netflix (once they stop getting supported on the PS3). And even then, I might just hook up a computer to my tv for that. The next generation holds no interest for me.

[Lan Di]

Everything is cheaper if you buy used. It's still cheap to buy Xbox 360 games used too.

The Xbox 360 didn't release with last-gen hardware performance levels. The Wii U will be up against modern hardware.

Here's Nintendo's latest terrible advertising. "Upgrading" is emphasized:

This ad is a futile effort by Nintendo. These morons are are trying to rekindle the sentiment of the NES glory days. Believe me, if Nintendo had it their way, they would force another industry monopoly. Make no mistake about it, Nintendo prefers control over competition. There is no Sony or Microsoft, only Nintendo. Remember back in the day the word Nintendo was synonymous with video games. No coincidence, that was on purpose!

The last AAA console they made was the SNES...

Rep'd!!

[MrSega]

Rep'd for truth. There is no need for new systems. I'm happy with my PS3 and would be happy if developers focused on the creativity of their games and not just better graphics for the next gen. There's tons of games I haven't played so even when the games stop coming, I can play my PS3 for years. As I've mentioned elsewhere, the only thing that might make me upgrade is services like Netflix (once they stop getting supported on the PS3). And even then, I might just hook up a computer to my tv for that. The next generation holds no interest for me.

This.

The upcoming consoles don't offer anything new at all. PS4 is basically going to be On-Live on steroids with the "PlayStation" brand slapped on it. With quadruple the costs for services.

And as for the Xbox "Infinity"? Meh. Basically 360 crossed with Apple TV. Not for my gaming tastes.

After a half decade of stagnant tech and little improvement graphically, the PC GPU market is finally taking those steps to leap to the next level.

PC for me.