Project Scorpio Next-Generation Xbox Gaming Console Debuts In Microsoft Store (betanews.com)

BrianFagioli quotes a report from BetaNews: Microsoft's next generation of video game console is currently called "Project Scorpio." This will be a truly new console, although it will be backwards compatible with all Xbox One games -- nice. In fact, you will even be able to use your Xbox One controllers and other accessories. While we do not have a definitive date of when it will go on sale, today the next Xbox console makes its debut in the Microsoft Store. We even get a slightly better idea of when it will be in stores. Microsoft reaffirms its prior stance that the console will launch in time for the 2017 Holiday season, giving us more confidence that it will launch then. Beyond that, we are none the wiser regarding a date. Heck, we don't even know definitively if it will use the "Xbox" branding (although it probably will). One thing is for sure, though -- simply putting the game system in the Microsoft Store is an important step leading up to the ability to pre-order. You can view Project Scorpio's Microsoft Store page here.

Comments

It's still an XBone...

[gweilo8888]

...and that means I have zero interest in it. Too little, too late, Microsoft: Your anti-consumer attitude in the original XBone launch ensured I won't consider any console you sell for at least a couple of generations.

Derp

[Gojira Shipi-Taro]

Hasn't been that expensive in a LONG time.

I don't get why they are bothering to do this

[HalAtWork]

It's already underpowered compared to last year's GPUs, they're requiring compatibility with the original Xbox One undermining its potential, announcing it only a couple of years away from a new generation giving it little time to amass support much less thrive, diving in with little first-party support as-is, and their PR line is that it is a premium system that will carry a premium price. If this is what you want you can already get a PC plus have access to Steam and other game catalogs.

It doesn't exactly sound like Scorpio will have much of a chance.

Re:I don't get why they are bothering to do this

[exomondo]

It's already underpowered compared to last year's GPUs

But you're talking about GPUs that end up underutilized in PCs due to the need to support millions of configurations. For the price of a highend gaming GPU you could get and xbox and a playstation.

Re:I don't get why they are bothering to do this

[HalAtWork]

No matter how many configurations there are, they still spec the game based on a majority of systems, what everyone is expected to handle. A game will be built around this ballpark spec, and then just run at a higher resolution, frame rate, higher anti aliasing... But still the same basic framework and assets.

Re:I don't get why they are bothering to do this

[exomondo]

No matter how many configurations there are, they still spec the game based on a majority of systems, what everyone is expected to handle.

Right so instead of exploiting specific architectural features of the GPU for efficient processing it's usually just a generic implementation because you need to target millions of different configurations with various different capabilities. Whereas on the console since you only have 1 or 2 targets you get the results by optimizing a platform-specific solution rather than having your customers throw expensive hardware at a generic solution.

I don't understand how people can still be surprised by this, console hardware always has a theoretical performance deficit compared to PCs because on a console it is more effectively utilized. This has been the case for pretty much the entire history of consoles and every time a new one is announced we see the same surprised comments about how the processing power isn't cutting edge ... it doesn't have to be.

Re:I don't get why they are bothering to do this

[gravewax]

I am a PC gamer but your comparison is moronic. Most people have PC's with graphics capabilities that even last gen consoles can keep up with. according to last months Steam Hardware results more than 65% of people still only have machines with graphics cards with 2GB of less of VRAM. People also don't generally buy a console for the latest and greatest in grpahics, if they want that they spend 2-4 grand on a PC. consoles are fast to setup, predictable experiences for users and provide a generic platform that developers can target and hence better leverage the hardware. I will stick with my PC but I can certainly see the value in consoles for many people.

Frame interpolation, checkerboard render, 1080p fx

[HalAtWork]

In a leaked presentation, MS has already outlined how performance will be achieved. Frame interpolation, checkerboard rendering, and rendering effects at 1080p and compositing them with 4k geometry, all this is on the table