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The Next Xbox: It’s nearly time

4 min read
79

THEFUTURE

Today’s the big day. The big reveal. After months and months of rabid speculation and the feverish churning of the rumour mill, today we finally find out what’s inside Peter Molyneux’s cube! Incidentally, (and of much lesser import) today’s also the day that Microsoft reveals its next-generation Xbox. What are you expecting to see?

Here’s what we know we’ll be seeing:

The next generation Xbox’s name.

It probably won’t be called Durango or the Xbox 720. Likely names at the moment are Xbox Fusion and Xbox Infinity – or taking a cue from Apple, just Xbox.

Guns and Football

Both EA and Activision have said they’ll be showing off their biggest annualised franchises, with the next iterations of both Call of Duty and FIFA set to take centre stage.

That’s…uh…about all we know for sure.

Here’s what we think we’ll be seeing:

A PC

We believe that the next Xbox will, at a base hardware level, be incredibly similar to Sony’s PlayStation 4, utilising AMD-powered x86 PC architecture. It’ll probably finally pack in a blu-ray drive, making that disc-swapping nonsense a thing of the past.

Kinect 2.0

We’re pretty sure Microsoft will be showing off an evolution of their motion-tracking peripheral Kinect. this time around, we expect it to be much more accurate – and be included with every unit so it actually gets used by developers who make things other than dance and fitness games.

A whole lot of entertainment

Microsoft has been pushing its Xbox as a multimedia platform for quite some time now, and we don’t think that’ll change with the next one. We expect to see a lot of mention of partnerships with media providers like Netflix and Hulu. Oh, and Pizza Hut.

A socially-connected experience

We think there’s some merit to the “always on” Xbox rumours – but they won’t quite be as terrible as you imagine. Instead, we think the next Xbox is going to be a living-room gateway, keeping you connected to your friends- through some sort of Windows 8-focused smartlgass-like app.  Without having to leave your couch.

A bizarre celebrity endorsement

It happens every time. Microsoft brings some random celebrity onstage for no good reason. When they debuted the Xbox 360, it was Elijah Wood, and with Kinect, it was Usher. I’m expecting Lady Gaga dressed in pizza this year.

Some actual new IP

Call it a hunch, but we actually think we’ll be seeing some new, exclusive IP from a beloved studio. Microsoft doesn’t seem to have much interest in making its own new exclusives…but that doesn’t mean they won’t buy them.

Here’s what we’re hoping to see.

No perpetual connection requirement or silly DRM

 If there’s one thing I don’t want to have to deal with with the next Xbox, it’s having to be online all the time just to use the thing. I also don;t want to have to install my games and authenticate them online just to play them. It’s a console, not a PC – even if it has the same architecture.

GAMES!

The most important thing for a console – any console – is games. You can have all the entertainment services in the world, but without games, you’re nothing. We’re hoping Microsoft realises that and focuses a little more on games.

Xbox Live redefined

Once upon a time, the Xbox Live Gold subscription cost was justified, because it offered a vastly superior online service to the PlayStation 3. That’s changed, and cross-game chat aside, the PS3 offers very much the same services that the Xbox 360 does – for free. Take in to account the PlayStation Plus subscription service, which gives users access to thousands of Rands worth of games for less than Xbox Live’s annual membership. Xbox Live needs to change for better and offer more value.

Backwards compatibility

This one’s pretty unlikely, especially if there has been a shift towards x86 architecture – unless, of course, that rumoured 360 system-on-a-chip actually exists.

That’s our list. What are you expecting, and hoping to see from Microsoft at tonight’s Xbox reveal? For reference, that happens tonight at 7PM SAST. You can watch the reveal event live on your Xbox dashboard, or on Xbox.com.

Last Updated: May 21, 2013

79 Comments

  1. Admiral Chief Commander

    May 21, 2013 at 12:15

    Here is what I am dreaming for:

    “Cross platform compatibility”

    So we all can shoot the crap out of each other!

    Reply

    • mancera

      May 21, 2013 at 12:17

      Can’t agree more… I’d really like to shoot the crap out of some PS and PC players!

      Chances are I’d suck and die over and over and over and over…. again, BUT it would be fun.

      Reply

      • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

        May 21, 2013 at 12:24

        PC players have faster look movement due to having a mouse but consoles have a little help from auto-aim. I reckon each platform would be able to hold their own

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief Commander

          May 21, 2013 at 12:31

          Blegh, auto-aim, SIES!

          Reply

        • Trevor Davies

          May 21, 2013 at 12:44

          Auto-aim? Kill the heretic!

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief Commander

            May 21, 2013 at 12:50

            *readies the cannon, and the hammer*

        • mancera

          May 21, 2013 at 12:49

          Yeah, I prefer an “aim assist” over auto-aim. But using a decent mouse on a PC will still give them the advantage me thinks.

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief Commander

            May 21, 2013 at 12:50

            They also play better in general 😛

          • mancera

            May 21, 2013 at 12:59

            Yeah… I’m better on FPS with a keyboard and mouse than my Xbox controller

          • Scruff304

            May 21, 2013 at 13:19

            I am useless when trying to play BF3 using an xBaws controller… Then again, I’m only a little bit better when using a keyboard and mouse 😛

        • Johan du Preez

          May 21, 2013 at 13:52

          Not sure about that bf3 had cross platform play in beta and the ps3 and xbox players got raped badly.

          Reply

    • Nix

      May 21, 2013 at 14:01

      That would be great but in reality very unfair. There was a article long
      time ago and if I remember correctly Microsoft tested this but found it
      to be completely out of balance due to the faster actions by PC gamers
      using the keyboard/mouse input. It basically was a slaughter house so to
      speak.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Commander

        May 21, 2013 at 14:11

        Hence, that is my dream, to prove mouse and keyboard as the superior devices :p

        Reply

  2. Admiral Chief Commander

    May 21, 2013 at 12:19

    I also hope it looks like this, because daaaaamn!!!

    I mean, RAWWWR!!!

    Reply

    • Ultimo_Cleric_N7

      May 21, 2013 at 12:35

      Creepy

      Reply

    • Ultimo_Cleric_N7

      May 21, 2013 at 12:35

      Creepy

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Commander

        May 21, 2013 at 12:36

        But cool eh?

        RAWWWR.

        Jokes aside, even I am curious how this thing will look!

        Reply

      • Admiral Chief Commander

        May 21, 2013 at 12:36

        But cool eh?

        RAWWWR.

        Jokes aside, even I am curious how this thing will look!

        Reply

        • Ultimo_Cleric_N7

          May 21, 2013 at 12:42

          Yeah, might be prettier than the PS4. The teaser earlier made the PS4 look a little……ugly.

          Reply

        • Brady miaau

          May 21, 2013 at 13:13

          like a sleek space ship, whisking us to the future?

          Reply

    • mancera

      May 21, 2013 at 12:47

      This still looks better than that teaser of the PS4

      Reply

      • Rince an repeat

        May 21, 2013 at 12:48

        Agreed.

        Reply

  3. DrKiller

    May 21, 2013 at 12:25

    There won’t be games showing tonight, only the Xbox itself.. Its only 1hour long, they will show the games at E3

    Reply

    • Trevor Davies

      May 21, 2013 at 12:46

      Hopefully they show an actual machine. I’m looking at you, Sony.

      Reply

      • DrKiller

        May 21, 2013 at 12:48

        They will show the new Xbox itself.. Would be kinda dumb to call Sony dumb for not doing it, and then they follow the example 😛

        Reply

    • Umar 'Van Hohenhaim' Bastra

      May 21, 2013 at 12:47

      Was that an official announcement? I know they showing Ghosts at least

      Reply

      • DrKiller

        May 21, 2013 at 12:50

        I’ve read an article last night, can’t remember where.. I believe we will see Ghosts, but that might be it.

        Reply

        • Umar 'Van Hohenhaim' Bastra

          May 21, 2013 at 12:55

          Ye, that and fifa. and hopefully blue dragon 2! ….. 🙁

          Reply

          • DrKiller

            May 21, 2013 at 12:58

            Fifa really? Its going to look the same as Fifa09 😛 But ja its only an hour.. I hope we get a surprise and which is NOT Diablo 3 😛

          • CaptainNemo42

            May 21, 2013 at 13:03

            Fifa? Why Fifa?

          • DieJason

            May 21, 2013 at 15:42

            Maybe that is why. US loves Xbox, they need some more loving from Europe and the East.

          • CaptainNemo42

            May 21, 2013 at 16:01

            So, it’s Ask not what your console can do for you, but what you can do for your console?

  4. umar bastra

    May 21, 2013 at 12:28

    Lost Odyssey 2

    Reply

    • Rince an repeat

      May 21, 2013 at 12:49

      Man, why do that hey? WHY!? You want me day to suck? Punk? *Run out office claiming water from eyes is coming from ‘allergies’…

      Reply

      • Umar 'Van Hohenhaim' Bastra

        May 21, 2013 at 12:54

        Sorry, No don’t cry!…I mean have allergic reactions …. But I know you want that game….*evil grin*

        Reply

        • Rince an repeat

          May 21, 2013 at 13:08

          Man, I so want a 2# to come out, but it won’t 🙁

          Reply

        • Rince an repeat

          May 21, 2013 at 13:08

          Man, I so want a 2# to come out, but it won’t 🙁

          Reply

          • Brady miaau

            May 21, 2013 at 14:36

            um

          • Rince an repeat

            May 21, 2013 at 15:03

            Mind, gutter, YOU!

          • Umar 'Van Hohenhaim' Bastra

            May 21, 2013 at 16:17

            LOL I didn’t even realize that lol

    • M4ksim80

      May 21, 2013 at 15:46

      I’m currently replaying LO (on disc 3 atm), after just finishing Blue Dragon again… man these Mistwalker games are excellent! Nothing comes close to this type of story telling, first game that made me sob like I did the first time I played Lost Odyssey.

      Reply

      • Umar 'Van Hohenhaim' Bastra

        May 21, 2013 at 16:02

        Indeed, I want to get the free Hard Mode DLC for Blue Dragon. but LO hey, takes the cake. It’s got an awesomely amazing story and that music lol tugs at your heart

        Reply

        • M4ksim80

          May 21, 2013 at 16:10

          It really is sad that so few people experienced this… Nothing out there quite like it. The short story writers (thousand year dreams) are incredibly talented.

          BTW – was not even aware of the Hard Mode DLC for Blue dragon? It really would have been nice, the game is a bit on the easy side.

          Also, did you get to experience Eternal Sonata?

          Reply

          • Umar 'Van Hohenhaim' Bastra

            May 21, 2013 at 16:16

            EXACTLY on more than one occasion I cried for those stories, don’t know if you remember the one about the Old Senile Grand Mother that kept calling you big brother.

            And ye, that’s why I’m waiting till I get that too play the game as the game has some awesome job mechanics.

            And nope I have not, can’t find a copy. so far my jrpg experience on the 360 has been limited to

            LO
            Blue Dragon
            Nier
            Tale of Vesperia

            ye that’s about it 🙁

          • M4ksim80

            May 21, 2013 at 16:38

            The funny thing is, LO was what got me hooked onto JRPG’s; I saw the trailer and thought let me give this a go… was completely blown away! (except for that disc 4 that was problematic a few times with the game freezing up a few times, I’m dreading getting to disc 4).

            Unfortunately, that was the highlight for me regarding JRPG’s, I do enjoy most of them but nothing so far exceeded LO. I regret that I never got to experience any games of the FF stable back in the hayday, I tried playing FFII and FFV, but the sprites really looked ridiulous by today’s standards. I wish I had played them back then.

            Yeah it seems most JRPG’s are like hens teeth these days, if you don’t get them during the release period they are almost impossible to find in shops.

          • Umar 'Van Hohenhaim' Bastra

            May 21, 2013 at 16:55

            Haha, I know what you mean though … for a newcomer, it’s best experienced during those times. but there are decent JRPGs on the system, tales of vesperia is really good and I found the story of nier was just mindblowing. If you like games for the story I highly recommend Nier. Nier is still available and its like 120 on takealot. If you ever get a ps3, Ni No Kuni is the way to go

          • M4ksim80

            May 21, 2013 at 17:30

            Loved Ni No Kuni and really enjoyed Tales of Vesperia… but still not at the same level as LO for me. Will give Nier a go – thanks!

            Regarding FFXIII and XIII-2, I think I was one of the few people who actually enjoyed it – awesome batlle system – but I suppose that is because I have never played any of the previous FF entries.

          • M4ksim80

            May 21, 2013 at 17:30

            Loved Ni No Kuni and really enjoyed Tales of Vesperia… but still not at the same level as LO for me. Will give Nier a go – thanks!

            Regarding FFXIII and XIII-2, I think I was one of the few people who actually enjoyed it – awesome batlle system – but I suppose that is because I have never played any of the previous FF entries.

  5. Ultimo_Cleric_N7

    May 21, 2013 at 12:35

    “No perpetual connection requirement or silly DRM”

    If there is, I’M OUT. No way IN HELL I am buying it.

    Reply

  6. Ultimo_Cleric_N7

    May 21, 2013 at 12:35

    “No perpetual connection requirement or silly DRM”

    If there is, I’M OUT. No way IN HELL I am buying it.

    Reply

  7. Lardus

    May 21, 2013 at 12:57

    Would I not be considered silly if I got the console with online DRM, given my Telkom line was stolen? Maybe if it was backwards compatible I could still be persuaded? Am I the only one asking questions now? What happened to that?

    Reply

  8. Scruff304

    May 21, 2013 at 13:17

    This might sound stupid, so please forgive me, or pretend @twitter-336534648:disqus wrote this, but is Microsoft allowed to stick a blue ray player in the device? I always thought that blu ray was purely a sony thing. Microsoft using it would mean Sony getting royalties for each and every one of their devices…

    Reply

    • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

      May 21, 2013 at 13:23

      No, the format is owned by the Blu Ray Disc Association (of which Sony is indeed a member). so yes, royalties will be due, but it’s in the order of cents.

      Reply

      • Scruff304

        May 21, 2013 at 13:27

        Ah, OK, thanks for clearing up.
        Still a few cents X how many Xbox’s will be sold = A nice bonus for Sony bosses…
        And if I’m not mistaken, Sony will also get paid for every game sold on the Xbox due to that game using a Blu Ray Disc

        Reply

      • Scruff304

        May 21, 2013 at 13:27

        Ah, OK, thanks for clearing up.
        Still a few cents X how many Xbox’s will be sold = A nice bonus for Sony bosses…
        And if I’m not mistaken, Sony will also get paid for every game sold on the Xbox due to that game using a Blu Ray Disc

        Reply

        • Brady miaau

          May 21, 2013 at 14:36

          all tech players pay royalties like this to, effectively, each other.

          iPhone, Xbox, that sort of thing.

          Reply

      • FoxOneZA - X-Therminator

        May 21, 2013 at 14:55

        It’s LG that gets the biggest chunk of BR royalties. Lagz gonna be rich yo’ 😛

        Reply

    • Umar 'Van Hohenhaim' Bastra

      May 21, 2013 at 14:15

      Huh…Don’t blame me …..we are no longer together

      Reply

  9. TiMsTeR1033

    May 21, 2013 at 13:24

    I actually got a question and hoping someone could shed some light. For interests sake how much data will it use to live stream the event through xbox live, as really wanna watch it but i dont wanna kill whats left of my cap. lol It prob will be more than a gig wont it?

    Reply

    • CaptainNemo42

      May 21, 2013 at 13:38

      What kind of internet do you have? ADSL? 3G and what is your internet speed?

      Reply

      • TiMsTeR1033

        May 21, 2013 at 13:48

        Using 3g data card, speed is hmmm the 21mbps one, its not slow at all. you tube videos stream effortlessly. and xbox live is great most of the time. issue is I know youtube rapes your bandwidth and chews through a cap. just curious how much data this 1 hour event would use… Any of the guys out there stream the ps4 conference, if so how much data that use when its live??

        Reply

        • CaptainNemo42

          May 21, 2013 at 14:19

          Well, it really depends on the resolution you plan on streaming it. And I don’t have an Xbox, so I don’t know if you can manually adjust it. I know that Netflix on my PS3 calculates the line quality in the first few minutes of the stream and then adjusts. If the xbox does the same and you have a 21mbps thing going, it might end up being expensive.

          Just for interest’s sake. limiting your Youtube streaming to 480p (SD) will save you some bandwidth. If you can limit the Xbox stream to that. Then you should be fine. I’ve watched full hour videos on Youtube, with no buffering and I’m limited to 700MB/hour due to my 2Mb adsl line.

          Reply

          • TiMsTeR1033

            May 21, 2013 at 14:44

            You got uncapped? how can they limit you to 700 mb an hour?

          • CaptainNemo42

            May 21, 2013 at 14:54

            Its not my ISP limiting me. I’m limited by the speed of the service I’m paying for. I only have a 2Mb line. which is a download speed of 256Kb/s and no matter how hard I try, I will never be able to download more, unless I upgrade to something faster, like a 4Mb or 10Mb line. At this stage, it’s an affordability issue.

          • TiMsTeR1033

            May 21, 2013 at 15:00

            So in other words you have a 3mb line, but if you stream you limited to 700mb an hour. Sounds strange but okay. lol I thought you could download as much as you liked depending on how much data you have. But perhaps what your saying is, thats the fastest you can download at one time per an hour, so maxed out is 700mb an hour so live streaming would be delayed then. pitty that.

          • CaptainNemo42

            May 21, 2013 at 16:10

            No, I think I’m explaining this wrong. There is no delay when live streaming. What I’m trying to say is that we are all limited to the amount you can download per second/minute/hour/month, depending on the speed of your service. You are technically limited to about 9Gb an hour due to your modem’s capabilities.

            Reason I used the per hour examples is that if you stream at 480p, you should be fine since I stream at that without any buffers. In an hour you shouldn’t use more than 700Mb unless the xbox used a different bitrate or codec that uses more bandwidth.

        • CaptainNemo42

          May 21, 2013 at 14:19

          Well, it really depends on the resolution you plan on streaming it. And I don’t have an Xbox, so I don’t know if you can manually adjust it. I know that Netflix on my PS3 calculates the line quality in the first few minutes of the stream and then adjusts. If the xbox does the same and you have a 21mbps thing going, it might end up being expensive.

          Just for interest’s sake. limiting your Youtube streaming to 480p (SD) will save you some bandwidth. If you can limit the Xbox stream to that. Then you should be fine. I’ve watched full hour videos on Youtube, with no buffering and I’m limited to 700MB/hour due to my 2Mb adsl line.

          Reply

  10. Sageville

    May 21, 2013 at 13:29

    First time I’ve actually been interested in a Console Reveal, regardless I can imagine that the interwebs will be going batshit crazy hours after the unveiling.

    Reply

  11. TiMsTeR1033

    May 21, 2013 at 13:52

    I hope they show some really cool tech demos. Anyone remember the rubber duckies tech demo for ps3 I think? that showed the advancment in power, esp from ps2 lol.

    Reply

    • FoxOneZA - X-Therminator

      May 21, 2013 at 14:57

      Rubber duckies showcasing the true next-gen power of consoles!

      Reply

      • TiMsTeR1033

        May 21, 2013 at 15:04

        indeed and then make them explode!!! plastic flying everywhere! and ooh include water too, with waves. Will be EPIC. lol

        Reply

  12. TiMsTeR1033

    May 21, 2013 at 14:01

    xbox hopefully show stuff like this!!

    Reply

  13. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    May 21, 2013 at 15:10

    I’m going into the reveal with the lowest of expectations. I have a feeling they’re going to push Kinect v.2.0 to the max, or even get befuddled with that stupid projector crap, but I am hoping that they reveal some new games.

    At this stage, the next xbox is definitely not on my December shopping list, but I would like them to have a strong showing. I really want them to show off some new games, a few new IPs, and to just get out of the creative funk…. I know, Call of Meh will be the drawing card for many gamers, but I want Microsoft to do something different. Where are the Viva Pinatas, or the Kameos? Dazzle me!

    Ultimately, the more competition Sony gets from Microsoft, the better Sony gets. And as a gamer, that’s really all I’m interested. I want the best possible experiences on the platform of my choice.

    Reply

  14. TiMsTeR1033

    May 21, 2013 at 15:26

    If next gen games could do this that would kick ass!!!

    Reply

  15. Tbone187

    May 21, 2013 at 15:39

    More interested in seeing Ghosts in action…consoles are overrated these days…

    Reply

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