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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.
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.
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.