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Report: New lead designer, brander working on next Xbox
Don Coyner, lead designer and marketing man for the original Xbox and the Xbox 360, will not be in charge of the new Xbox design team, Cnet reports. Coyner will be replaced with Emma Williams, who helped launch the recent Xbox Live interface revamp, one of Cnet's sources says. Coyner joined Microsoft from Nintendo in 1995, and became marketing director for the original Xbox in 1999. Coyner designed the user experience and branding for the Xbox 360, and his most recent title at Microsoft is General Manager of Design. Williams joined Microsoft in 2003 and is currently General Manager of Xbox Experiences, leading last week's Xbox Live interface update that introduced more social, content-specific hubs to the 360. With the next Xbox rumored for release in 2013, the Live update could be a massive trial period for features to include in the new model, or it could be a secret government study monitoring the effects of cloud storage on adolescent violence. Could be.
Designer imagines the next Xbox
Designer Joseph Dumary dreamed up this interpretation of the next Xbox console, which he calls the "Xbox Prestige." It's slightly curvier than the Xbox 360 Slim, suggesting it's from the future. It also includes a built-in "KinectIn" sensor for menu navigation and to scan cards for purchased games -- buy the card, put it in front of the system, and either download it or play it streaming. Inside the hypothetical console is a 2TB hard drive for storing those games, and a tuner for live TV. It is, in general, much nicer than the real system will be.
Rumor mill: next gen Xboxes + Kinect 2 to read lips, track fingers, make unicorns real
Pinches of salt at the ready, folks. According to the latest speculation, Microsoft's sequel to the Xbox 360 will actually be two models, a pared down set-top box for casual gamers and a heftier model for the hardcore. Either way, Xbox 720 / Xbox Loop's getting paired up with a revised version of the magnificent Kinect hardware. The digital grapevine's saying that Kinect 2 will be able to read your lips, track your fingers and sense the tone of your voice to determine if you've come over all angry. It can't do that currently thanks to its USB cable, which can only transmit 16MB/s of data -- limiting the camera's resolution to 320 x 240 at 30fps. We don't know what protocol the new sensor bar will use, but we do know that either USB 3.0 (which can transmit 400 MB/s) or Intel's Thunderbolt (700MB/s) would remove such limitations. In related news, 2012's Kinect for Windows is getting a shorter USB cable for better data integrity and a refocused image sensor that will switch to "near mode" to see objects 50cm away -- which means a whole bunch of classic Kinects and Nyko Zooms are gonna wind up as a filling for a New Mexico landfill.
Sony doesn't want to drop PS4 too long after Wii U and next Xbox
Showing up late to a party is just the pits. All the good bits of the Chex Mix have been picked out, everybody already watched The Room and you're often the only one sober enough to go right back out and buy more alcohol. In much the same way, Sony says it learned its lesson after letting a year go by after the start of the current generation before launching the PS3. Speaking to Eurogamer, SCEE chief Jim Ryan, said: "I think we would consider it undesirable to be significantly later than the competition [with the next PlayStation]." With Wii U slated for next year and the next Xbox possibly in 2012 (that is, if you believe the rumors), it looks like we could be in for a very interesting 12 months. Well, a very interesting 12 months capped off on Dec. 21 with the return of Quetzalcoatl, and ensuing end of human civilization. But you can't start thinking that way. Yet.
Rumor: Next Xbox to be Windows-powered, going 'Apple route'
With the Xbox 360 now six years old, rumors are swirling about its inevitable successor. After last month's report of a 2013 or even early 2014 launch for the next Microsoft console, a pair of new rumors place it back in 2012 and predict some of its inner workings. First up, the insidery, anonymous MS Nerd blog is reporting that the next Xbox, codenamed loop, will run on a modified version of Windows 9 and use ARM architecture. The custom designed hardware will supposedly feature "a 'main' processor with multiple dedicated assistive cores for graphics, AI, physics, sound, networking, encryption and sensors." The blog adds that the device will be "cheaper" and "far smaller" than the Xbox 360. Meanwhile, on a recent episode of TWiT's Window's Weekly netcast (at 1:28:15), Paul Thurott of Supersite for Windows offered a slightly different take on the console's prospects. First of all, based on his own sources, Thurott is expecting a holiday 2012 launch, meaning Microsoft "would almost have to announce this at CES" in January. Further, the system will utilize the same Metro UI design as Windows Phone 7 and will feature "embedded Silverlight." Furthermore Thurott says the console will go "the Apple route" and will "integrate very tightly" with Windows Phone and Windows 8. In summation: The next Xbox will release in 2012, 2013 or 2014, it will have processors, run Silverlight and will use either Windows 8 or Windows 9. Hopefully that clears everything up.
Rumor: Next Xbox slated for 2013
With Nintendo revealing its Wii U console at E3 2011, many speculated that Microsoft would be pressured to unveil the next Xbox at the next E3 in 2012. According to Develop sources, we might have to wait a little bit longer, until 2013 to be precise. The site reports that various sources "from processor chip manufacturers to middleware firms" are expecting an E3 2013 reveal of the console, followed by a launch later in the year, though it could be as far away as early 2014. Apparently Lionhead is busy working on a project named "Fable Next," for the new console, which certainly doen't seem like a stretch. It also gels with a report earlier this month about Alan Wake 2 and other next gen projects. Furthermore, Develop believes that Epic will unveil a new Unreal Engine before 2014, the date recently predicted by CEO Tim Sweeney. Finally, sources still seem to believe that EA is already in possession of development tools for the next Xbox, despite the publisher claiming otherwise. Our prediction? The Xbox 1080 will be announced by Microsoft next week. The unit will feature an integrated Kinect sensor and will support PlayStation 4 emulation using a heavily modified version of Bleem.
Next generation Xbox pops up in Microsoft resumes
While there's no doubt that Microsoft is hard at work on some form of new Xbox console, we may have a new glimpse into those who are actually making it. A handful of resumes and documents were discovered by Superannuation, listing various employees that may be working on the new hardware. Among these is Jeff Faulkner, with Gematsu reporting that his LinkedIn profile had him listed as "Xbox Nex Gen Creative Director," though the profile seems to have been altered since the discovery. Faulkner is set to speak at London's Typo expo, however, and the event describes him as "Creative Director for Xbox Next Generation, where he guides the vision for Xbox's User Experience Design across Social Media, User Experience, Entertainment, Gesture and Voice Input, Information Design and Brand and Visual design." Also listed is senior creative director Jonathan Harris, who is busy "designing the next generation of entertainment."
Rumor: Alan Wake 2 in production (for the next Xbox)
Rumors of an Alan Wake sequel have been circling about since ... well, since Alan Wake and its DLC expansions left the door wide open for one. But also since the phrase "Alan Wake 2" first appeared on an artist's resume back in May. Developer Remedy confirmed with Joystiq that it was working on more Wake, though "this next Wake installment will not be Alan Wake 2," it said. "But neither will it be DLC." How appropriately mysterious! And now a rumor from Xbox World magazine says that Remedy is indeed working on Alan Wake 2, for the next-gen Xbox. "We hear a number of Microsoft-friendly developers are hard at work on prepping next gen games as we speak. Could this be the reason why Remedy are so quiet about Alan Wake 2? (Yes)," the magazine responded to itself. "Rare, Lionhead and Turn 10 all have teams in place too. Rare, we hear, are even prototyping ideas for a new 'mature title,'" the mag adds. We spoke with Microsoft Studios chief Phil Spencer at E3 this year, who said he read about the project on Joystiq and had no involvement with it at that time. "I think the stuff they're doing now they wanted to incubate, Mattias and the team," Spencer said. "They wanted to incubate internally. Like I said, I don't think they've signed it with anybody." Spencer also insisted that Microsoft Studios had no next-gen games in development and was instead completely focused on Xbox 360 and Kinect software. I think we speak for everyone (in the world) when we say that we don't care which platform Alan Wake 2 comes out on, just so long as it has a killer multiplayer deathmatch mode. We're kidding.
Microsoft hiring for 'next-generation console' engineers
Though Microsoft isn't close to approaching the end of its ten-year plan for the Xbox 360, the hardware manufacturer seems to be staffing up to develop the heir apparent of the gaming console's kingdom. The company recently posted a handful of hiring ads for its Mountain View research facility, which is looking to add a design verification engineer, hardware architect and other positions to its roster to help with "defining and delivering next generation console architectures from conception through implementation." If these "conceptual" positions really are for the Xbox 360's successor, we're probably a few years out from learning anything else about the next-gen console. All we can hope is that the team also publishes a help wanted ad for the position of "Making Sure the Console Doesn't Spontaneously Stop Working Technician."
Ghostbusters dev targeting more Infernal Engine licensees this year
Terminal Reality hopes other developers ain't afraid of licensing the studio's Infernal Engine to use on future projects. In fact, the Ghostbusters dev's VP of sales and marketing, Joe Kreiner, tells GI.biz that his goal is to secure "at least another half a dozen to a dozen within the next year, at minimum." An attainable goal, according to Kreiner, which if achieved would put the number of customers in Terminal Reality's containment unit somewhere in the neighborhood of twelve since the middleware first opened up to developers in February.Rather than a short-term solution, Kreiner further notes that the Infernal Engine was designed to work across multiple CPUs and SPUs, something the marketing chief believes "future-proofs" the tech for use on later console platforms down the line. In the short term, however, he adds that Ghostbusters shows off the engine "really well." Hopefully other studios will come calling now that the game's publisher merry-go-round has (hopefully) stopped ahead of the title's anticipated June launch.
VentureBeat: Microsoft buying 3D camera company
A story from Haaretz was circulating last week claiming that Microsoft was in talks to purchase 3DV, maker of a camera-based motion sensing technology. Now, VentureBeat has supported the claim, saying that its sources confirm that a deal is in the works.Assuming Microsoft has gaming in mind and not creepy, Minority Report-style desktop navigation, our feelings are mixed on it. It could be a giant leap forward if 3DV's tech were bundled with a new console, but we're not sure we'll be ponying up for another stand-alone camera while still under the watchful, dusty eye of our Xbox Live Vision. What about you?
Rumor: The next Xbox will be 'forwards compatible'
Brace your earth brains for this one: Xbox Evolved is reporting that they heard from a "reliable source" that the next Xbox (let's call it the 720, just for laughs) will be ... are you ready for this? ... forwards compatible. Woah! Can you believe it? The next Xbox will have the ability to look into the future and play the games of tomorrow, with no present day knowledge of their existence or content.Well, not exactly like that. Xbox Evovled is using "fowards compatible" to mean that 360 games will be better on the 720, which could mean anything from improved graphics to additional features. (That only applies, of course, to 360 games that have been designed to do so.) That seems more like "improved backwards compatibility to us" but the concept -- which could really help to pad the launch lineup of the 720 -- is intriguing nonetheless.
Rumor: Next Xbox to improve 360 games
Here's an interesting Xbox 720 (you know, the next Xbox console) rumor. According to Xbox Evolved and their "sources", Microsoft is planning on implementing "forward compatibility" into their next console creation. Saying that the next Xbox will improve upon current 360 titles, increasing frame rate, draw distance, graphics, textures, etc. Interesting rumor, but we can't help point out that Xbox Evolved's use of the term "forward compatibility" doesn't really make sense. If the Xbox 720 were to play Xbox 360 games and improve the the overall experience, that's simply called backwards compatibility. Just like the Xbox 360 plays (some) original Xbox games. So, we're not entirely sure what Xbox Evolved's rumor news is really about, because we sort of expected the Xbox 720 to play and improve the overall experience of 360 games. That is unless they're talking about future Xbox 360 games adding code to make them forward compatible with the 720. Actual code on the disc that the 720 will use to improve the features, look and experience. That's what we'd call a forward compatible Xbox 360 game.[Via Game Stooge]
Rumor: Intel vying for Larrabee chip in Xbox 720
Intel is rumored to be heavily courting Microsoft for inclusion of its high-performance GPU Larrabee in the next-generation Xbox, according to The Inquirer. Its source states that Intel is willing to make a lot of major concessions, the logic being that inclusion in the console would compel game makers to develop for the chipset, thus increasing interest in the consumer PC market and making a dent in the GPU market dominated by ATI and Nvidia. It's certainly not a far-fetched scheme; we'd be surprised if Intel didn't at least make a pitch to Microsoft, regardless of the actual terms.The Xbox 360 currently uses a PowerPC-based CPU from IBM and a GPU designed by ATI. Should this rumor prove true, our first reaction is "cool" and our second is to wonder about backwards compatibility, which became an issue given that the original Xbox's GPU was based on a different, Nvidia-based architecture in comparison to its successor. [Via Tweaktown; Thanks, Tigerj]
Rumor: Gamerscores transferring to next Xbox console
A rumor in Game Informer (full text from GI after the break) states that Gamerscores and achievements will be transferable to Microsoft's next console. As far a rumors go, this is one many Xbox 360 owners might pray Microsoft wouldn't prevent from becoming a reality.Achievements and Gamerscores are two features of the Xbox 360 that have developed a strong following, particularly among "ch33vo-holics." We can already imagine the internet hissy-fit temper-tantrum freak out we'll see if the Xbox faithful can't transfer their data. Although the next console is still years away, it would be unfortunate to envision Microsoft not allowing gamers to transfer their data effortlessly to the next system.[Via X3F]
Seagate - the answer to digital distribution?
When thinking of gaming, the companies that make the storage medium are rarely thought of. Seagate, however, is offering up an interesting view of the future; a future that could effect the way we buy our games. According to Seagate, they are working on a technology that will drastically increase the amount of data we store on hard drives. Using a technology called heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR), the company expects to be able to shove 50 TB of information into a single square inch of drive space, or around 300 TB of information on a standard 3.5" drive. With that kind of space, the entire Library of Congress can be stored ... without any compression. The technology is expected to become commercially viable in a scant three years, by 2010. This means we may be seeing the Xbox 720 and PS4 being entirely based around digital distribution or fully installed console games, mostly eliminating ugly load times and noisy disk drives. With that kind of space, we may never have to worry about filling it up; 300 TB can hold around 6,144 50 GB Blu-ray disks (or the entire Library of PS through PS3 games that could ever be created with room to spare).
MS opens in-house chip lab for Xbox 720
The NY Times reports that Microsoft is ending its partnership with IBM to found it's own chip design lab to work on chips for a planned third generation Xbox:The design effort will initially be split between research labs at the company's headquarters in Redmond, Wash., and its Silicon Valley campus here. Tentatively named the Computer Architecture Group, the project underscores sweeping changes in the industry. One reason for the effort is that Microsoft needs to begin thinking about the next-generation design of its Xbox game console, said Charles P. Thacker, a veteran engineer and Microsoft engineer who will head the Silicon Valley group. Voice recognition may also be an area where the research could play a significant role. Thacker is famous in certain circles for his work at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center. The division will be called the "Comupter Architecture Group" which isn't the snazziest name ever, but then, neither was IBM.
