neXtBox Speculation!

[abigsmurf]

Fudzilla isn't an incredibly reliable site.

2010 launch isn't gonna happen. It would make the Natal push look farcical. I think 2011 unveiling at E3 (or a month or two before) for an autumn launch is very probable.

ATI are currently ahead with their graphics cards and their current line's lower power consumption will be very attractive to MS given their cooling issues. Nvidia are having all sorts of issues. Using Larabee leaves the console open to the same "downporting" issues the PS3 has due to the complexity of coding for a new tech.

[Matt]

It would be nice if MS went with the LRB, backwards compatability issues aside. The Cell may be complex to code for, but if MS made the tools for it, it would be easier than devs currently face; likewise I believe LRB needs MS behind it for it to succeed, at least early on. I can't see LRB making a big impact on the PC market without it appearing in a console [at least not for a while].

[CMcK]

Natal is the relaunch for the existing hardware. That should keep things fresh, from a marketing perspective anyway, to give MS time to sort out the next system. And some time for the Wii to fade as well.
The present generation of systems, PS3 and 360, are quite capable of producing more and I would imagine that Sony and MS would like a nice long shelf life for the chance to turn a decent profit.
Look at how much the 360 and PS3 have changed as a result of firmware updates keeping things fresh.

Personally my predictions for the next gen would be pretty obvious really.

next Xbox - In order multi core PPC CPu with integrated memory controller. Graphics and chipset remain traditional AMD parts with software for BC.

PS4 - More Cell action. Probably 2 core in order with 32 SPUs per core. And a second Cell chip for the (GP)GPU.

Apple open sourcing their scheduling software and OpenCL should make for better tools for developers to work with all these cores.

Motion controls as standard for both systems with a more traditional controller packed in as well. Built in Wi-Fi, large HDD's (still think SSD will be too expensive) and a lack of memory card ports.

[charlesr]

We are almost at the end of 2009. There are Christmas cards in the shops. If Autumn 2011 launch, that's 2 years away. I don't think people will be ready to buy a new machine by then. They'll have only just stopped repurchasing the first one for the 4th time.

I have a horrible feeling the nextbox will be an all singing dancing PVR/VOD/Bluray/web thing that goes the same way as the PS3 i.e. does everything (and also plays games if you want). It's what they want, you know it.

[MisterBubbles]

Most games aren't even doing 1080P, and not that upscaled nonsense, lets get the devs creating great looking 1080P games, before any talk of next gen.
I dont think it's going to happen any time soon as MS have dropped 1080P standard, remember that saying at launch ( all games will be 1080P ) , 720P is the new holy grail, pretty sad.

[Brats]

Your memory is pretty bad, MS always said 720p was the 'sweet spot'. In the beginning, the 360 couldn't even output 1080p.

[Matt]

Most games aren't even doing 1080P, and not that upscaled nonsense, lets get the devs creating great looking 1080P games, before any talk of next gen.
I dont think it's going to happen any time soon as MS have dropped 1080P standard, remember that saying at launch ( all games will be 1080P ) , 720P is the new holy grail, pretty sad.

Surely by now we all know this gen can only do 1080p under strict circumstances. I imagine we'll see more 1080 titles over the next few years, but it will never be a significant percentage of titles. To get 1080, we'll need next gen hardware.

[huxley]

We are almost at the end of 2009. There are Christmas cards in the shops. If Autumn 2011 launch, that's 2 years away. I don't think people will be ready to buy a new machine by then. They'll have only just stopped repurchasing the first one for the 4th time.

I have a horrible feeling the nextbox will be an all singing dancing PVR/VOD/Bluray/web thing that goes the same way as the PS3 i.e. does everything (and also plays games if you want). It's what they want, you know it.

Time wise I`d say you`re spot on. Cant see MS wanting to include Bluray. As a company I dont think Microsoft want to even support Bluray (netflix VOD). They have spent a lot of time on Windows 7 and the 360 as an extender, as such they seem keen to support download services over solid formats.
If they did go with Bluray wouldnt that mean them handing over money to Sony? Then again they do have Sony Pictures stuff on Netflix.

[charlesr]

If it gives me 10-15 films a month via instant VOD for £15/month (like Lovefilm), then yeah, I won't care about a bluray drive.

[EvilBoris]

I dont think it's going to happen any time soon as MS have dropped 1080P standard, remember that saying at launch ( all games will be 1080P ) , 720P is the new holy grail, pretty sad.

I'm pretty sure they said all games would be 720p

[Vince]

One feature i would like is to have all my saved games backup automatically online, so as long as i sign on using my profile i can use them anywhere. Not sure how they will distibute the games though, will they go with something like bluray, download only or will they use some sort of memory stick, maybe even a return of cartridges.

I don't think it will be until 2012 though, although it would be nice to have some sort of new console by then (most likely a Wii2 or DS2).

[Extra Terrestrial]

I have been thinking about something lately... doesn't anybody just want a game console anymore?

That is why I liked the GameCube and PlayStation 2 so much - they were pure game consoles.

It seems to be a case of making these new consoles an 'all-in-one media device' instead of focussing on what they are (or were) really about in the first place.

[Rick]

They would be mad to use DVD next time. It would have to be Bluray. How else are they going to manufacture games if they don't use DVD.

[abigsmurf]

I have been thinking about something lately... doesn't anybody just want a game console anymore?

That is why I liked the GameCube and PlayStation 2 so much - they were pure game consoles.

It seems to be a case of making these new consoles an 'all-in-one media device' instead of focussing on what they are (or were) really about in the first place.

Indeed, I'm also getting fed up with Having to spend half an hour downloading and installing a system update, then another 20 minutes installing an update for the game in question before it'll let me play.

There's something deeply wrong when it's less hassle to install a PC game than to play a consle game

[djtickle]

Indeed, I'm also getting fed up with Having to spend half an hour downloading and installing a system update, then another 20 minutes installing an update for the game in question before it'll let me play.

There's something deeply wrong when it's less hassle to install a PC game than to play a consle game

I dont feel that the xbox really suffers from this much, most updates on my connection are less than 1 min. PS3 though... ugh its awful for updates and demos. Installing a full game on a 360 takes less time than a part install on most ps3 games. I understand its the size difference on the disks etc but still meh