Microsoft Unveils Next-Gen Xbox Details

Microsoft is today giving us our first look at the future of Xbox. At E3, Microsoft is revealing details on the next-gen Xbox console, codenamed Scarlett.

“It eats monsters for breakfast”, Microsoft’s Kareem Choudhry said, teasing the power of the next-gen console. The new console will be powered by a custom-designed processor, leveraging AMD’s Zen 2 and Radeon RDNA architecture. The new processor on the Xbox Scarlett will make the console 4x faster than the current generation.

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The new console is powered by GDDR6 RAM and is capable of powering 120fps gameplay, as well as 8K. “This generation is going to be a bigger leap than any generation before”, Microsoft claimed.

Microsoft’s Phil Spencer said the new console is design for one thing and one thing only: gaming. The company has built next-gen SSDs for the new console that are used as virtual RAM, allowing for 40% performance increases over the current generation consoles, and faster game load times. It will also feature variable refresh rate support and ultra-low latency input.

“Unmatched power and speed ushers in a new level of gameplay performance and the future of gaming. With four generations of content that looks and feels unlike anything before,” Microsoft said, focusing on the quality of the gameplay on its next-gen console. And that’s not a surprise at all — Scarlett comes with real-time, hardware-accelerated ray-tracing that should make gameplay look absolutely stunning.

“With Project Scarlett, we continue our commitment to compatibility by ensuring your gaming accessories and Xbox career will also move forward with you, along with thousands of games across four console generations which will look and play best on Project Scarlett,” the company said at E3. The promises made here are quite incredible, so we will just have to wait till Holiday 2020 when it launches along with Halo Infinite.

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Conversation 27 comments

  • IanYates82

    Premium Member
    09 June, 2019 - 5:59 pm

    <p>Sounds nice! ? </p>

  • m_p_w_84

    09 June, 2019 - 6:15 pm

    <p>Are we supposed to understand when Holiday 2020 is?</p>

    • MikeGalos

      09 June, 2019 - 7:51 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#434195">In reply to m_p_w_84:</a></em></blockquote><p>It's pretty standard usage.</p><p><br></p><p>In this industry "Holiday 2020" means it will be for sale in the shopping season for people purchasing Christmas, Hanukkah and other Winter Holiday gifts. So, figure, right after "Back to School 2020" and no later than mid November in 2020.</p>

    • waynerobinson

      09 June, 2019 - 8:09 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#434195">In reply to m_p_w_84:</a></em></blockquote><p>I’d like to know why your comment was voted down. In countries that aren’t the United States the term is a mystery and, as an Australian, ‘Back to School’ means the end of January. Just puttin’ it out there 🙂 </p>

      • skane2600

        09 June, 2019 - 9:37 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#434223">In reply to WayneRobinson:</a></em></blockquote><p>Yes, sometimes we in the US forget that other countries have different traditions and holidays.</p>

        • Elan Gabriel

          10 June, 2019 - 1:20 am

          <blockquote><em><a href="#434242">In reply to skane2600:</a></em></blockquote><p>"Sometimes"</p>

  • skane2600

    09 June, 2019 - 7:15 pm

    <p>Talking heads is never a great way to introduce a technology product. </p>

    • codymesh

      09 June, 2019 - 7:34 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#434212">In reply to skane2600:</a></em></blockquote><p>have you watched any product introduction, ever?</p>

      • skane2600

        09 June, 2019 - 9:07 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#434215">In reply to codymesh:</a></em></blockquote><p>Is there really any doubt in your mind how I, or anyone here, would answer that question?</p><p><br></p><p>If you disagree, why not explain your reasons? </p>

  • MikeGalos

    09 June, 2019 - 7:47 pm

    <p>You've got a pretty big typo in that transcript on the SSD performance, Mehedi…</p><p><br></p><p>You have "<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The company has built next-gen SSDs for the new console that are used as virtual RAM, allowing for 40% performance increases over the current generation consoles,</span>"</p><p><br></p><p>That's not supposed to be 40% performance increases. That's 40 TIMES performance increases. </p><p><br></p><p>That's stated at the 2 minute mark of the video.</p><p><br></p><p>Kind of a big difference.</p>

  • Stooks

    09 June, 2019 - 9:12 pm

    <p>Day one purchase, just like my Scorpion. </p>

    • Tony Barrett

      10 June, 2019 - 12:10 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#434227">In reply to Stooks:</a></em></blockquote><p>I'd wait for the reviews and price first. I think we can be pretty sure the PS5 will be as good as or better, and will be fully backwards compatible (did MS mention anything about backwards compatability?)</p>

  • Pierre Masse

    09 June, 2019 - 9:30 pm

    <p>Yes, but what about XCloud?</p>

    • Skolvikings

      10 June, 2019 - 9:06 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#434230">In reply to Pierre Masse:</a></em></blockquote><p>It's a valid question.</p>

  • Tony Barrett

    10 June, 2019 - 2:35 am

    <p>I love how in this reveal, Spencer only talks of 'gaming'. MS had much bigger plans for the XB1 at the 2013 reveal, and barely mentioned gaming – queue one massive failure that it never recovered from. The XB1 was also underpowered compared to the PS4 which didn't help. I guess MS don't want to make that mistake again, but it has a mountain to climb, as Sony will be going toe-to-toe with them all the way, and are likely to have a long list of AAA exclusives which MS doesn't. Halo and Forza again will likely be Microsoft's stalwart titles at launch. It's also highly likely MS will push subscription services heavily as part of the new console – maybe you'll <em>have to have </em>a subscription just to use it – it's very possible.</p>

    • Greg Green

      10 June, 2019 - 10:00 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#434292">In reply to ghostrider:</a></em></blockquote><p>That whole XB1, WP and Win 8 time span was years wasted. They’re right back where they were before their big dreams/delusions. Xbox for gaming, PCs for heavy lifting, and no mobile.</p>

      • rm

        10 June, 2019 - 10:39 am

        <blockquote><a href="#434357"><em>In reply to Greg Green:</em></a><em> Better streaming capabilities than anyone else so far. Any yes they have mobile. They are building Xbox games for Android and iOS, plus xCloud and Xbox streaming to mobile. Again, more options announced than Stadia or Sony.</em></blockquote><p><br></p>

        • skane2600

          10 June, 2019 - 4:19 pm

          <blockquote><em><a href="#434381">In reply to RM:</a></em></blockquote><p>I'm sure Greg meant hardware when he said "no mobile". When we are talking only about game <em>software</em> on Android or iOS, it's the specific title that matters not the imprint of the company that makes it. </p>

          • Greg Green

            11 June, 2019 - 7:57 am

            <blockquote><em><a href="#434479">In reply to skane2600:</a></em></blockquote><p>Yep, thanks.</p>

        • Greg Green

          11 June, 2019 - 8:09 am

          <blockquote><em><a href="#434381">In reply to RM:</a></em></blockquote><p>Thanks for the info on Xbox streaming on android and iOS. Too much happening in cross platform and streaming for me to keep up or keep it straight.</p><p><br></p><p>It it looks like Xbox on iOS is observation only, no playing. Social interaction and game purchases available, but no actual playing.</p>

  • Daekar

    10 June, 2019 - 4:52 am

    <p>And to think, I am still playing games at 1080p. I wonder what the framerate will be at that resolution? </p>

  • Patrick3D

    10 June, 2019 - 9:30 am

    <p>120Hz, wow, gaming like it's 1999.</p>

  • Greg Green

    10 June, 2019 - 10:04 am

    <p>“<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">next-gen SSDs for the new console that are used as virtual RAM”</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Does this mean they’re still relying on traditional hard drives and the SSD acts like Optane? That means initial loading of a new game or level will still be a chore until it’s established itself on the SSD. </span></p>

  • Rob_Wade

    10 June, 2019 - 11:46 am

    <p>I'm no more excited for Scarlett than I was for the One X. We don't have a 4K television–and no plans to get one anytime soon since our current 60in HDTV is only a couple of years old–so that aspect is a non-player for us. Our current Xbox One has Kinect, which we rely on a lot, so that also means the Scarlett is unable to meet our need in that respect (although one might assume it COULD support a Kinect if you buy the extra adapter…but it's not explicitly stated). And, if I understood the announcement, it seems like they are completely dumping any of the media center-like capability that remains the exclusive reason we have an Xbox One in the first place (since I only game on PC). Finally, unless I missed it, I saw nothing about supporting VR (which is among the reasons I game only on PC).</p>

    • MikeCerm

      11 June, 2019 - 2:55 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#434415">In reply to Rob_Wade:</a></em></blockquote><p>The Xbox is a game console, so if you don't play games on it then why even have it at all? The Xbox One uses about 80 watts when playing video. A Roku or Android TV box does all the same stuff (except disc playback), uses about 5 watts. Why not just use one of those?</p><p><br></p><p>If you do play games, even with a 1080p TV, the One X (and Scarlett) are a big improvement over the original Xbox One. Many games that are limited to 30 FPS on One and One S will play at 60 FPS on One X. Some older games that are 720p or less (like 360 and original Xbox back-compat. games) are upscaled by One X, but are limited to their original resolution on One and One S. Games that have been optimized for the One X — and there are many — will look way better even at 1080p.</p><p><br></p><p>But if you don't play games, then of course a new game console will not appeal to you.</p>

  • mattbg

    Premium Member
    10 June, 2019 - 12:36 pm

    <p>"Your XBox career" :)</p>

  • hassan_timite

    11 June, 2019 - 7:55 am

    <p>Well, We don't get a lot from the E3 regarding Scarlett.</p><p>Though there is at least an interesting hint in the video. One person says that Scarlett eats monster for breakfast. Was it a subtile way to say that Scarlett should blow the PS5 that many call a monster ?</p><p>Moreover there is something that Phil Spencer says which could imply that Microsoft has a more important budget than what many think for the Xbox Scarlett project. He stated that the same technolgoy will also be used in their datacenters.</p><p>Now regarding the use of SSD for VRAM. I am wondering if it wouldn't be better and cheaper to use relatively cheap RAM as VRAM ?</p><p>I mean assuming that the main RAM is GDDR6, is it not possible to have a second pool of GDDR4 or even GDDR3 for VRAM ? </p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

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