Report: Microsoft is Prepping an "Xbox 1.5" For 2017

[Steven Bogos]

Report: Microsoft is Prepping an "Xbox 1.5" For 2017

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Microsoft are working on an incremental upgrade for the Xbox One that is reportedly four times faster than what's currently on offer.

Not to be Polygon [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/166904-Sony-PS4-5-Supports-4K-Resolution] have claimed that the new console, codenamed "Scorpio" will be an "Xbox 1.5" of sorts - four times faster than the current Xbox One, and capable of supporting the Occulus Rift. It will reportedly launch some time in 2017.

The Xbox One is believed to operate a peak target of 1.32 teraflops, compared to the 1.84 teraflop performance numbers attributed to the PS4. Scorpio is targetting 6 teraflops, which even puts it above the 4.14 teraflops that the PS4.5 is reported to operate at.

While this does make the device technically capable of supporting the Rift, Polygon's sources state that Microsoft's relationship with Oculus has not changed since it was announced last summer. The new console will work just like the PS4.5 - supporting both Xbox One games, as well as new games made specifically for the upgraded hardware.

Additionally, Microsoft is working on a compact redesign of the Xbox One, which we should see released this year. The slimmed-down console will also come with a redesigned controller.

These reports have been corroborated by separate sources from both The Verge [http://kotaku.com/sources-smaller-xbox-one-coming-this-year-more-powerf-1778634446], which does add a bit more legitimacy to them. Nonetheless, Microsoft is keeping its mouth shut on this one, so it's still a rumor for now.

Source: Polygon [http://www.polygon.com/2016/5/25/11774294/xbox-one-slim-one-two-scorpio]

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[tippy2k2]

*Sigh....

I really hope that this (and the PS 4.5 thing) are not truly the case. I am not interested in getting upgrades for my systems; that's why I'm on the console. Why the fuck would I want all the drawbacks of PC gaming (questioning what will and what won't play on it, having to pay for upgrades every few years and what would be the "New 3DS" syndrome of getting two games worth getting with your giant upgrade while all the developers stay back with the bigger audience) with none of the perks?

Honestly, if both Microsoft and Sony start doing pulling this crap (outside of things like Slim versions as that's no problem for me), I might finally get to play XCOM 2 as I go....*SIGH.....PC. Now I feel dirty just thinking those thoughts...

 

[Marik2]

This is why I wait a couple years before buying tech

 

[KaraFang]

Ouch

If they are serious and want it to run that much faster? It's going to need some serious muscle.

The question will be: Do they want it to sell for profit, or are they going loss leader on tech and make up the money on games?

Still though, ouch. This console season has been pain for all console users involved. They honestly are becoming PC's with very little of the PC adaptability that comes with the real thing.

 

[EHKOS]

Soooo...what the fuck is the point of the slimmed down version, and if it's the Xbox One, and add a point five to it, shouldn't they call it the 180?

 

[Creator002]

supporting both Xbox One games, as well as new games made specifically for the upgraded hardware.

This concerns me a little. Does that mean, if I want to play all the latest games, I might have to drop $600[footnote]That's what tyhe Xbox One cost on release in Aus.[/footnote] on a new console?
I mean, thank goodness I keep my computer relatively upgraded, but I do enjoy a console game now and again.

 

[Vern]

News like this makes me glad I decided to forego this console generation and just buy/build a new PC. I was really thinking about getting a PS4 when they came out, but opted to dump that money into a PC. Even when the specs for the XBone and the PS4 were announced I thought they sounded under-powered, and apparently I was right. They are extremely under-powered. And at this point you have to install games to the device to play them, thus ruining a great part of consoles - put the game in and play. More and more they just started sounding like crappy PC's.

Really sucks for the people who bought them though. Hopefully they'll offer some sort of trade-in if you want to upgrade to the PS 4.5 or Xbox 1.5, if they don't I'd imagine they'll piss off quite a few people. At least with the N64 expansion pack they made it so you could just pop it in the expansion port and be done with it, not have to buy a new console.

 

[Hairless Mammoth]

Wouldn't you call this an Xbox Two?/jk

This is why I was skeptical of both consoles this generation. (I should have been more skeptical of Nintendo, too, but they have their own weird niche and, 1-2 years ago, looked like they were finally going to start putting effort into that niche .) Both sides talked their usual talk of making the best system to play games with, filled with the latest tech, but within a few weeks of the launches, the reality was plain as day that both consoles are struggling to hit 1080p (or even the polarizing 60fps) with many games and have no chance of running a graphics intensive VR games. Those are a standard that has been in consumer displays for nearly a decade and a very obvious growing trend in the industry that both didn't plan for in the current iteration of Playstation and Xbox.

What we have been offered for the past 2.5 years was just what many others and I saw: a stop gap to make publishers and chip makers (and some PC/consoles gamers interested in graphical improvements) happy that the extra long 7th gen would finally end and a way to boost sales after that last gen started to loose steam. Now, should these rumors be true, Sony and MS are ready to take the next baby steps. And hopefully these mid-gen upgrades are really are just to be able to run at a higher resolution (maybe just 4K for video playback) and run VR, with everyone who just spent $300-$(insert massive amount here) on a new console not being locked out of some of the next non-VR-only games to come out.

Also, redesigned xbone and controller? Yeah, the xbox could use a new look. (So could Sony's own box, for once.) The controller only needs to change the bumpers back to something like the 360's. Also if they're doing a redesign for the standard Xbox One, maybe the Xbox One Point Five won't be a direct replacement. It would suck to buy the smaller xbone right when it hits stores, only to hear the official announcement that it's obsolete a few weeks later.

 

[weirdee]

Since the Wii U failed because everybody mistakenly thought it was just a hardware upgrade, let's try doing it for real!

 

[Bobular]

Honestly I think both Microsoft and Sony are just going to piss off their customers by pulling stuff like this. The majority of the responses I've seen to this is either 'I don't care' or 'I think this is a stupid idea', haven't seen much in the way of support for this.

 

[Lufia Erim]

supporting both Xbox One games, as well as new games made specifically for the upgraded hardware.

This concerns me a little. Does that mean, if I want to play all the latest games, I might have to drop $600[footnote]That's what tyhe Xbox One cost on release in Aus.[/footnote] on a new console?
I mean, thank goodness I keep my computer relatively upgraded, but I do enjoy a console game now and again.

This is pretty much the only problem. Games made specifically for the upgraded version. That is going to make a few people upset.Other than that i don't see a problem.

At least Sony said that all future games will be compatible with the ps4. Which is the right way to do it. Making the upgrade optional for people who either have the money to upgrade or those who haven't bought a ps4 yet. It's a win/win for Sony. This on the otherhand is a risk for Microsoft.

This is why Sony is winning this console battle of wits.

 

[MythicMatt]

If this really is the case, they'd better offer a trade-up for owners of regular XBOnes.

If they don't let existing owners send in their console to receive the very slightly better version, there's no real point to the upgrade.
That said, Microsoft are already on thin ice from the disappointement that is Halo 5, and if I can't play Halo 6 with IRL coop [or at all, due to not having a XBOne.5], that's the final nail in the coffin.

 

[Thatguyky]

" as well as new games made specifically for the upgraded hardware."

Seriously? For real? I really hope this doesn't happen. I mean, I have a gaming rig that has plenty of power for modern releases, but the entire reason I got an Xbox One is for things like Forza, Gears, Halo, and other exclusives. I really hope they do not make games only for the Xbone 1.5 or whatever they're calling it. If consoles get a hardware upgrade every year or so, the point in buying them for me is pretty much non existent. Might was well build a PC at that point...

 

[Jadak]

At least Sony said that all future games will be compatible with the ps4.5. Which is the right way to do it. Making the upgrade optional for people who either have the money to upgrade or those who haven't bought a ps4 yet. It's a win/win for Sony. This on the otherhand is a risk for Microsoft.

This is why Sony is winning this console battle of wits.

Do you mean that the other way around? Did Sony say that all future games will still be compatible with the PS4? Future games being compatible with the 4.5 isn't different than this, it's just saying that the new consoles will be backwards compatible.

Bit of a fuckup either way really. If you force your new games made for a console several times more powerful to still work on the old console, then you're not allowing developers to do anything with your new console short of bumping graphics settings and supporting VR. Most game development is still going to be constrained by the old specs.

And if don't add that constraint, then it's effectively just a brand new console with backwards compatibility after less than 3 years.

 

[gorfias]

This is why I wait a couple years before buying tech

Largely not worth waiting. If you can afford it, do it. It's just fun to see improved visuals.

That written, I can't afford it. I don't have to worry about bankruptcy. If I buy a .5 gen console given what I already have, my wife will kill me. But I can dream.

 

[BloodRed Pixel]

"And so the "Corporation's Combined Console Customer Clusterfuck started. Indeed." - So it will be written in the history books.

Really what's the point getting a console these days?

 

[Lufia Erim]

At least Sony said that all future games will be compatible with the ps4.5. Which is the right way to do it. Making the upgrade optional for people who either have the money to upgrade or those who haven't bought a ps4 yet. It's a win/win for Sony. This on the otherhand is a risk for Microsoft.

This is why Sony is winning this console battle of wits.

Do you mean that the other way around? Did Sony say that all future games will still be compatible with the PS4? Future games being compatible with the 4.5 isn't different than this, it's just saying that the new consoles will be backwards compatible.

Bit of a fuckup either way really. If you force your new games made for a console several times more powerful to still work on the old console, then you're not allowing developers to do anything with your new console short of bumping graphics settings and supporting VR. Most game development is still going to be constrained by the old specs.

And if don't add that constraint, then it's effectively just a brand new console with backwards compatibility after less than 3 years.

Oops. Yeah thats what i meant. Sony said that there will be no ps4.5 exclusives. I'll go fix that right away. Sorry.

Edit: to continue with your other points. From what i gathered. Every game will have a 4k mode, meaning that people with a ps4 can play the game as usual, and people with a ps4.5 can play on 4K. But the games should be fundamentally the same. If you have no problem with how the ps4 is at the moment, you shouldn't have any problems with the games in the near future.

Of course we can't forsee the future, but if this is true, then i don't see a problem with the way Sony is proceeding.

Even the PSVR should be able to work well with the ps4 as well as the ps4.5 . It seems to me that the ps4.5 is entirely optional.

 

[Aiddon_v1legacy]

I just find it funny how these PS4.5 and XB1.5 rumors started appearing shortly after Nintendo announced the NX. Amazing at how they can scare companies into new hardware, even in this case it just illustrates how pathetically misguided Sony and MS are in pandering to the "hardcore."