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

[shrekfan246]

(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)

Yeah, I don't know why Sony and apparently Microsoft seem to be so interested in getting in on this, when Nintendo has already provided a fantastic example for why it's a bad idea.

 

[dishwasherwong]

Good to know I just dropped ?380 on this piece of junk only to hear it's going to be "upgraded" potentially in one year. I don't understand this console generation at all.

 

[KaraFang]

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.

What Sony advised when they revealed the PS 4.5 was that: Games will be coded 1st and foremost for the PS4 as is. They will provide information to programmers of the extra power and abilities of the 4.5 which, if they programmers wish, can be integrated into their game so that when the game detects a PS4.5 it will run at the higher res/better bells and whistles compared to the PS4.

So, MS not to be outclassed has announced a new Xbone with... something, but more power.... and OCCULUS! (We don't understand this really at MS, we were hoping to use glass, but people seemed unimpressed, but this occulus is where it's at... whatever it is. SAY WE WANNA SUPPORT IT FOR THE PR!)

I... seriously, just buy a PC now peeps. I'm no PCMR supporter, but now? With all the patches that Sony and MS have applied, bricked consoles, re-patched, bricked other consoles, and the "upgrades" are you REALLY getting anything easlier with a console. Cause I seriously question the whole "pop in and play" now applies to modern consoles.

 

[Lufia Erim]

"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?

Not everyone is tech savvy you know. If i buy a PC game and it doesn't work i have no idea what to do. I don't know how to edit files or even check the specs on my computer. And i don't really have the time to spend an hour to find out what a problem is or how to fix it. And lord help me if i buy a game on day one and it doesn't work.

So i buy and play on consoles to avoid the headache. Now if another person is more knowledgeable and able to deal with these things in a timely manner , more power to them, but you have to realise that the average person have no clue how most of these things work. It's why things like " geek squad" from bestbuy exist.

 

[KaraFang]

"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?

Not everyone is tech savvy you know. If i buy a PC game and it doesn't work i have no idea what to do. I don't know how to edit files or even check the specs on my computer. And i don't really have the time to spend an hour to find out what a problem is or how to fix it. And lord help me if i buy a game on day one and it doesn't work.

So i buy and play on consoles to avoid the headache. Now if another person is more knowledgeable and able to deal with these things in a timely manner , more power to them, but you have to realise that the average person have no clue how most of these things work. It's why things like " geek squad" from bestbuy exist.

and when a console doesn't work? What do you do then? - Pray that they release another patch that deborks the other patch that caused the issue? What about when Sony and Xbox ask you to do a firmware update. Do you sit there going "nope" or do you read the instructions they provide.

Getting games to work on PC 99% never require you to amend or edit files. At most you'd have to update your drivers, and most companies now provide automated ways of doing this, so your knowledge requirement is even more basic.

Also, I refuse to believe that you wouldn't know how to check the specs on your PC. Hell, all windows recently have provided "basic info about my PC" as an option in the system settings (control panel) of the OS.

Essentially, nowadays for PC's (99% of the time, and often that 1% is a VERY old game you're trying to get working) as long as you know how to update your consoles software or firmware.. hell, if you know how to update your damn phones software, you can fix 99% of problems on PC. I am noway trained or anything, at most I taught myself the basics, and I can normally get anything that wont work to work with some basic fiddling and updating. Hell, I built my PC I currently use by reading the manuals that came with the parts, slotting tab A into slot B, and then letting windows do its thing and them following the instructions to update and install drivers. It's NOT hard.... no harder than reading the instructions for a console on how to use it.

Look. If you are that worried, just don't build one, buy one from someone reputable FFS. I am sick of:

a) it's too expensive: it's not. you can get a PC that thrashes consoles for about ?500
b) it's too hard to solve problems on PC and stuff never works without mass fiddling. Rubbish.

phew, sorry went a bit ranty. Nothing against you... just that "it's TOO HARD." excuse is total bull.

 

[balladbird]

Haha, wow. playstation 4.5 sounded dubious enough, but at least, as mentioned, Sony had the foresight not to make it requisite for people who already had the default PS4. If you don't have a 4k tv or plan to buy a VR set, you're golden.

It's been a couple years since I realized this would be my last console generation, though. Ever since I was playing Dragon Age and experienced the bizarre situation of my console game crashing to desktop... I'm not a fan of all caps, nor of repeating myself... but I'm going to indulge in both here... because I feel this situation deserves it. *ahem*

MY *CONSOLE* GAME CRASHED TO DESKTOP.

Granted, that's the only game I've ever had it happen on, and it only happened in one specific, bug-riddled part of said game, but still. >.< Unless the niche Japanese games that make up 90% of what I play remain largely sony exclusive, I'll probably look into PC when this generation ends.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

Microsoft and Sony don't have much of a choice in this. This happened because AMD will no longer produce 28nm parts. They're moving on to their 14nm FinFet designed for Zen and GCN 4.0. Microsoft and Sony had a choice. To use the newer tech but to gimp it and basically pay for potential that will never be utilized, or to use the offered increase in performance to develop a faster console while they're at it. They were also probably both scared that the other company would choose to upgrade and make their console more appealing to consumers.

This is AMD's fault first and foremost. And yes, it could be a pretty devastating blow to the entire console market.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

Microsoft and Sony don't have much of a choice in this. This happened because AMD will no longer produce 28nm parts. They're moving on to their 14nm FinFet designed for Zen and GCN 4.0. Microsoft and Sony had a choice. To use the newer tech but to gimp it and basically pay for potential that will never be utilized, or to use the offered increase in performance to develop a faster console while they're at it. They were also probably both scared that the other company would choose to upgrade and make their console more appealing to consumers.

This is AMD's fault first and foremost. And yes, it could be a pretty devastating blow to the entire console market.

That... makes no sense. AMD would have happily provided them with 14nm boards that ran at the previous specs, especially since if designed right it would have allowed them to use a significant chunk of otherwise unusable silicon. That they allowed their fear of what the 'other guy' would do drive their decision in now way makes it the fault of AMD.

They're not about to pay more to get less performance than they could be getting for the same money. Bottom line is that the performance gains don't cost extra and gimping the chips might actually cost more.

 

[Zydrate]

People hark on PC Gaming being inferior because you have to upgrade every few years. I fail to see how this is different.

Not trying to shittalk, the whole PC Master Race thing... I don't really get behind it. But I upgraded my PC lately and I'm loving it, it runs everything I want.
I do want some Last of Us and Killzone though, both of which are Playstation things.

 

[Strazdas]

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.

The hell are you on about? The PS4 re-release is for 4k video display DRM and not for processing power increase and same is expected with Xbox One.

ALso you do know that TitanX barely achieves 6 teraflops, you are expecting TitanX in an Xbox One? At an affordable price? good joke.

Not everyone is tech savvy you know. If i buy a PC game and it doesn't work i have no idea what to do. I don't know how to edit files or even check the specs on my computer. And i don't really have the time to spend an hour to find out what a problem is or how to fix it. And lord help me if i buy a game on day one and it doesn't work.

So i buy and play on consoles to avoid the headache. Now if another person is more knowledgeable and able to deal with these things in a timely manner , more power to them, but you have to realise that the average person have no clue how most of these things work. It's why things like " geek squad" from bestbuy exist.

We live in a world where we are surounded by computers constantly. Not being tech savy is not an excuse anymore. And even windows itself show specs of your computer if you look at computer properties. And the headache you claims is imagination. I know there is a lot of FUD spread to console users about how "hard" PC is, but it is ALL A LIE.

Also you do know that Geek Squad probably knows less about computers than you? they are the joke of IT industry. Also Best Buy should not even exist anymore, they are absolutely horrible place noone should ever use.

 

[Leg End]

So i buy and play on consoles to avoid the headache. Now if another person is more knowledgeable and able to deal with these things in a timely manner , more power to them, but you have to realise that the average person have no clue how most of these things work.

I've typically subscribed to the school of thought that "if you use/depend on it heavily, you should learn about it and be able to maintain it". This is why mechanics get away with robbery.
"We brag on having bread, but none of us are bakers. We all talk having greens, but none of us own acres."

It's why things like " geek squad" from bestbuy exist.

They know even less about computers than my most technologically inept family members. You're seriously better off just looking up your local mom & pop repair place and asking for an estimate.

 

[TotalerKrieger]

Microsoft and Sony don't have much of a choice in this. This happened because AMD will no longer produce 28nm parts. They're moving on to their 14nm FinFet designed for Zen and GCN 4.0. Microsoft and Sony had a choice. To use the newer tech but to gimp it and basically pay for potential that will never be utilized, or to use the offered increase in performance to develop a faster console while they're at it. They were also probably both scared that the other company would choose to upgrade and make their console more appealing to consumers.

This is AMD's fault first and foremost. And yes, it could be a pretty devastating blow to the entire console market.

That... makes no sense. AMD would have happily provided them with 14nm boards that ran at the previous specs, especially since if designed right it would have allowed them to use a significant chunk of otherwise unusable silicon. That they allowed their fear of what the 'other guy' would do drive their decision in now way makes it the fault of AMD.

They're not about to pay more to get less performance than they could be getting for the same money. Bottom line is that the performance gains don't cost extra and gimping the chips might actually cost more.

AMD doesn't produce the chips, they design and licence them to be manufactured by foundries in China. I am guessing that TSMC and/or GlobalFoundies built the 28nm chips that are found in the PS4 and XB1 and both companies still prominently advertise their 28nm production facilities on their respective websites. Just because they have begun production of 16nm and 14nmFinFet, doesn't mean that 28nm production disappears overnight. 28nm node production will exist as long as there is sufficient demand and profit to be had. 28nm is currently more profitable for these foundries as the yields are far better than smaller nodes.

Sony and Microsoft are squarely to "blame" for these half step consoles. There are more and more 4K TVs in homes now, but no consoles that are able to play games at these screen's native resolution, hence the need to upgrade the GPU in the XB1 and PS4 consoles.

 

[Flathole]

Using "better graphics!" as your primary selling point for your consoles/games is SOOOOO 2002!


Take Star Fox 64 as an example... a game that came on a CARTRIDGE, had more content then Star Fox Zero. Unbelievable.

And in the past (up until 7th gen I think) consoles were sold at a loss to the manufacturers. A PS2 would cost $400 to make and sell for $250 (or whatever). It was an investment, because once the consumer has the console, you can sell them games at a profit.

I don't know for certain, but I'm pretty sure consoles, controllers, and other accessories (Kinect, amiibos, PSmove etc.) are being sold at a profit today.

 

[Brian Tams]

These things need to die in a fire. Seriously, I hope nobody buys them and both Sony and Microsoft take such huge loss in profit that they'll never try this bullshit again.

I know that's not the case because most people are dumb, bleating sheep, but still.

 

[Pirate Of PC Master race]

Oh, look who has to buy new machine every few years.

Jokes aside, this was obvious progression. "The next gen console" as I like to call it.

 

[KaraFang]

Well not everyone is as tech savvy as you, I could never build a PC in a million years. So why waste time trying?

My first PC was created by reading PC pro magazine and following the guide they have in there and the manuals from the components.

If you can do this, you can build a PC. So much of it now is like putting a lego set together.

 

[TheMysteriousGX]

Well not everyone is as tech savvy as you, I could never build a PC in a million years. So why waste time trying?

My first PC was created by reading PC pro magazine and following the guide they have in there and the manuals from the components.

If you can do this, you can build a PC. So much of it now is like putting a lego set together.

Well, until you plug one wire in wrong and fry your motherboard anyway.

If not for the grace of God, I'd have owed my roommate a new $300 part at least. And I've built computers before this one.

OT EDIT: Sounds like the start of a new console generation to me. Hopefully this one starts off better. The WiiU, PS4, and XBox One didn't quite hit the ground running.

 

[Zipa]

Microsoft and Sony don't have much of a choice in this. This happened because AMD will no longer produce 28nm parts. They're moving on to their 14nm FinFet designed for Zen and GCN 4.0. Microsoft and Sony had a choice. To use the newer tech but to gimp it and basically pay for potential that will never be utilized, or to use the offered increase in performance to develop a faster console while they're at it. They were also probably both scared that the other company would choose to upgrade and make their console more appealing to consumers.

This is AMD's fault first and foremost. And yes, it could be a pretty devastating blow to the entire console market.

That... makes no sense. AMD would have happily provided them with 14nm boards that ran at the previous specs, especially since if designed right it would have allowed them to use a significant chunk of otherwise unusable silicon. That they allowed their fear of what the 'other guy' would do drive their decision in now way makes it the fault of AMD.

They're not about to pay more to get less performance than they could be getting for the same money. Bottom line is that the performance gains don't cost extra and gimping the chips might actually cost more.

AMD doesn't produce the chips, they design and licence them to be manufactured by foundries in China. I am guessing that TSMC and/or GlobalFoundies built the 28nm chips that are found in the PS4 and XB1 and both companies still prominently advertise their 28nm production facilities on their respective websites. Just because they have begun production of 16nm and 14nmFinFet, doesn't mean that 28nm production disappears overnight. 28nm node production will exist as long as there is sufficient demand and profit to be had. 28nm is currently more profitable for these foundries as the yields are far better than smaller nodes.

Sony and Microsoft are squarely to "blame" for these half step consoles. There are more and more 4K TVs in homes now, but no consoles that are able to play games at these screen's native resolution, hence the need to upgrade the GPU in the XB1 and PS4 consoles.

AMD has used Global Foundries for everything as they have an agreement with them to purchase so much silicon per year from them. Zen their upcoming 16nm processors are the first time that they have elected to go with another manufacturer, in this case TSMC.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

Wait, what happened to all the "Xbox One Cloud" stuff that was promised would close the Xbox One power gap.

http://www.dualshockers.com/2014/04/26/xbox-one-microsoft-claims-cloud-computing-can-provide-power-of-3-xbox-ones-32-xbox-360s/

During the stage event the Microsoft Japan representative claimed that the Xbox One has roughly eight time the computational power of an Xbox 360, but that's not all, as combining the the local machine with the cloud, the computational juice of roughly three Xbox ones units could be used.

If it had 3 times the power why are they selling an extra uprade for a similar power increase.

But wait...

http://www.develop-online.net/news/microsoft-cloud-makes-xbox-one-four-times-more-powerful/0114948

"If you look to the cloud as something that is no doubt going to evolve and grow over time, it really spells out that there's no limit to where the processing power of Xbox One can go," said the spokesperson.

4 TIMES MORE POWERFUL! WITH NO LIMIT!

And here's more:

http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2015/12/21/phil-spencer-xbox-one-cloud-computing-power-available-to-all-including-ps4/

Azure, the cloud-based technology owned by Microsoft, can be used to power any games regardless of platform.
Read more at http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2015/12/21/phil-spencer-xbox-one-cloud-computing-power-available-to-all-including-ps4/#Cgpg2fLvrcYQjp7X.99

Any game regardless of platform! Play Halo, Infamous, Mario Cart, Banjo Kazooie, Pokemon Moon and Sun! ALL ON THE XBOX ONE WITH THE POWER OF THE CLOUD!

All of these were said by Microsoft employees. At what point does this become false advertising because seriously they might as well just have claimed it increased penis size and cured cancer for all the truth in their statements.