Microsoft’s Scorpio is undoubtedly going to be the focal point of their E3 presentation, having been a year since the company first announced their new console. While it’s still not clear whether this is an iteration or the attempt at a new generation (the former seems to be edging ahead now), there’s no denying that Microsoft are aiming to build a true 4K powerhouse of a console. And they seem confident in it too, allowing the technical experts at Digital Foundry to reveal all the console’s innards tomorrow.
Having spent some time with the console in Seattle, Eurogamer’s Digital Foundry will be revealing all of the Scorpio’s specifications and their thoughts on the work in progress tomorrow. The team was apparently given a lot of time to investigate the hardware being used, as well as treated to some demos of Forza Motorsport 7 running at 4K. There’s likely not to be an official name and finer price details revealed, but we’ll surely get a comprehensive report on what makes the console tick.
To clear up the speculation: @digitalfoundry will have an exclusive Xbox Scorpio reveal on @eurogamer this Thursday at 2pm UK / 6am Pacific. pic.twitter.com/S6xxT2YCcn
— Eurogamer.net (@eurogamer) 4 April 2017
Since E3 of last year, Microsoft has been rather vague about all of that. We know that they’re aiming for a console capable of outputting 6 terraflops (nearly 33% more than the PS4 Pro’s 4.2 terraflops), with a staggering 12GB of GDDR5 RAM giving the console a little oomph. Hopefully we’ll get to see if the Scorpio is in fact running on AMD’s new Ryzen technology, along with some of the methods the consoles will use to get around the demands of 4K.
If you’re still wondering the positioning of Scorpio in the market (like I am), tomorrow isn’t likely to provide answer. Digital Foundry are seen as the gold standard in tech analysis, so it’s genius of Microsoft to hand over their console to them to dissect. The reasons to actually buy the console (software support, exclusives and all the jazz) are hopefully not too far away either.
Last Updated: April 5, 2017
Pieter Kruger
April 5, 2017 at 09:57
Iteration or new generation? What are the set guidelines here? A certain % power increase? A new architecture? So is PS4 Pro only an iteration because of the lower raw power increase? Xbox Scorpio will be fully backwards and forwards compatible, who cares how and with how much power they achieve this? This will be the best console to play 3rd party titles on for years to come. Anyone still wondering about the positioning of the Scorpio in the market(seriously?), it’s the same as the PS4 pro, just way way more powerfull…… Giving it to DF to dissect speaks volumes about Microsoft’s confidence in the system and is a very good idea after Sony bungled the launch of PS4 pro. All MS/Xbox haters are going to have a very bad day tomorrow……
Grimsupanoob
April 5, 2017 at 09:59
the only question will be around the eventual price
Pieter Kruger
April 5, 2017 at 10:01
Very true, it won’t come cheap. Been saving up and as soon as Amazon list them I’m ordering myself one of these puppies……
Grimsupanoob
April 5, 2017 at 10:03
As long as it does not follow in the footsteps of the PlayStation 3 when it launched, they should be alright.
Alessandro Barbosa
April 5, 2017 at 10:37
IF this thing is simply an iterative console (which is looking the most likely), I don’t understand who Microsoft is going to use it to claw anything back. Personally, I think they needed a reboot – a full dive into the next generation with some first-party backing to help reset the gap between them and Sony right now.
A more powerful console that doesn’t have a first-party library anywhere close to as strong as Sony’s doesn’t change a thing. The PS4 (and by extension, the Pro) will remain more appealing options. Power alone doesn’t change that.
Pieter Kruger
April 5, 2017 at 11:02
Again, what in your opinion would validate it being “next generation”? New CPU perhaps (there’s a chance it might be a customised Zen chip….), 100% more power? Will making Xbox One games incompatible make it a “next eneration” console? If you wanna look at the Scorpio as either an iteration or “new generation” console you’re covered either way I think, whatever floats your boat.
The architecture will never move away from PC again as this enables easier porting both ways and will ensure most PC exclusives will also end up on Xbox space. 3rd Party games outnumber exclusives by what, 10, 20 or 30-1?, if the Scorpio will offer best gameplay experience on all 3rd Party games alone I’d think that’s a great reason to buy it.
Do you think MS have stopped 1st party development? The exclusives are coming, they’re just not going to announce them 3 years in advance anymore(lessons learned from Scalebound, Fable etc.)
We should stop moving the goal posts to suit Sony every time(peas, sales figures, exclusives etc.) Maybe then Sony would’ve made a bigger effort with their VR and “pro” attempts…..
As I said, tomorrow is going to be a very bad day for all MS/Xbox haters…..
Alessandro Barbosa
April 5, 2017 at 11:26
1) “if the Scorpio will offer best gameplay experience on all 3rd Party games alone I’d think that’s a great reason to buy it.” Bad assumption to make. First-party right now is deciding where people are playing, and it’s why PS4’s lead is only growing. I think the best place to play third party has a factor in that, but that alone is no going to get the 60 million odd PS4 owners to suddenly be like “ok yeah that console is the better one now”.
2) “Do you think MS have stopped 1st party development? The exclusives are coming, they’re just not going to announce them 3 years in advance anymore” Nope, but I do think they’ve rested on existing franchises and middling sequel for far too long. There’s is no denying their first-party line-up needs a serious injection of quality. They’re just not up to par.
3) “We should stop moving the goal posts to suit Sony every time(peas, sales figures, exclusives etc.)” Isn’t that kind of what you’re trying to do with Scorpio? 😛 Suddenly because it’s just a more powerful console it’s going to change everything. That’s moving the goalposts.
I honestly think Microsoft has made some of the better moves over the past year with some policies (backwards compatibility is huge, their new Netflix approach is also great) and some bad ones (think having all exclusives on PC too was a mistake), but I really want them to come back into this fight. Because right now I have my Xbox One S that died on me and zero inclination to actually replace it. I want that desire to game on Xbox to come back – it’s better for everyone in the long run to have two strong horses as opposed to one. But a more powerful Xbox that then can’t have it’s own exclusives and is held back by the Xbox One (because that will happen, if they want to keep that clause) just doesn’t sound like anything to me,
Grimsupanoob
April 5, 2017 at 09:57
Aww yis….
Ricardo Harvey
April 5, 2017 at 10:01
Speaking as a bit of an xbox fanboi, it doesnt matter how great the hardware is if there’s no good games(exclusives) to play…just ask pc gamers.
Grimsupanoob
April 5, 2017 at 10:04
lolz…. man, steam library is PACKED full of amazeballs games that I still have to finish… also Xbone at home for the rest
Pieter Kruger
April 5, 2017 at 10:05
There’s plenty of games out there and still coming(both 1st and 3rd party) I sometimes think there’s too many games as I doubt I get to play even 5% of them all…..
Jim of the Banana
April 5, 2017 at 10:48
but wILL IT HaVE Games?
Galbedir
April 5, 2017 at 11:19
Considering how the original ps4 and xbox one were supposed to be “Next gen” consoles, they were both rather underwhelming in terms of performance. With most games running at 720p upscaled, or at 1080p with framedrops. If this Xbox Scorpio actually manages to pull of running games at 4k at a reasonable framerate. I’d say it classifies as a true “next-gen” console.