Xbox 720 release date, specs, features & news rumours

 

Gallery

Posted on 16 May 2013 at 17:03, by Seth Barton

We'll be updating our Xbox 720 release date, specs & price rumours article to accommodate the most up-to-date speculation as the days tick down to the official reveal, so save this page and keep checking back for regular updates

With less than one week to go until Microsoft's #XboxReveal event at the time of writing, we've gathered together everything we know (and a lot of what we think we know, plus a whole lot more besides) about the next generation Xbox - which we're calling the Xbox 720 until Microsoft's official unveiling. You can find the countdown to the event over at the official Major Nelson Blog, along with a second ticking towards the start of this year's E3 event on the 11th of June.

NAME

Microsoft hasn't let anything slip regarding the name of the new Xbox, but that doesn't mean rumours aren't flying around. It has purchased the URL for Xbox8.com, which could fit in with Xbox Loop or possibly Xbox Infinity, although the logo mockup doing the rounds was actually created by Reddit user C-Ron. Even so, the infinity symbol makes a lot of sense to us, as it's essentially an X with added curvy bits at either end - it would create plenty of opprtunities for the marketing and design teams at Microsoft.

The new console could just be known as Xbox, which will almost certainly irritate anyone searching Google for updates on the system when they end up with 10-year-old information about Microsoft's first console. The logical step forward would be Xbox 720, although the number seems purely arbitrary now as the 360 monicker of the previous console was supposed to indicate inclusivity. Even so, it seems to be the name most people are using to refer to the new system, so we'll carry on with it for now.

One thing's for sure - the next-gen Xbox is almost certainly codenamed 'Durango' after a (now deleted) tweet from Crytek technical designer Sean Tracy was spotted.

PROCESSOR AND GRAPHICS

It’s far from conclusive, but the general consensus is that the Xbox 720 will be using AMD CPU and graphics hardware like Sony’s PS4.

It seems likely now that the production name for the new chip is Oban. Original rumours had this being developed by IBM, using PowerPC cores, but it now seems as though AMD has stepped in and will be using x86 architecture. Using off-the-shelf components should help Microsoft build systems faster than if it was fabricating its own chips, as well as cut down the learning curve for software developers, allowing games to be released faster.

What we do know is that if a new console is due to be launched this year, then Microsoft would have needed to confirm the final silicon production wafers for the console by December 31st 2012. According to a report by SemiAccurate, that deadline was fixed if the company was to make its deadlines work for this year.

Several rumours have suggested the console will use two GPUs in tandem, although this won’t be a 'CrossFire' configuration like the one you’d find on a gaming PC. Considering complex hardware architectures have been a real failing of many consoles in the past, this seems a little outlandish – simple architecture is easier for developers to get to grips with quickly. The rumours could refer to a powerful main GPU and smaller, media-centric GPU designed to reduce power consumption when watching videos or playing music.

Any new console must be capable of producing 1080p at 30fps, along with the processing overheads required for 3D as well. Rumours of an 7000-series AMD GPU would certainly live up to this, and also place the Xbox 720 and PS4 on a very close footing in terms of graphical oomph - something that publishers and developers will appreciate.

AMD recently revealed the Radeon HD 7790 graphics card, which is highly likely to form the basis of the next Xbox's GPU. It uses a redesigned chip architecture, something AMD would never normally roll out for a mid-range card half way through its life cycle, and matches many of the leaked specifications mentioned by the Durango development kit documentation.

There's also a possibility that the new Xbox will include backwards compatibility with Xbox 360 discs, thanks to an x86 chip built into the new console. An anonymous post made to Pastebin by an individual claiming to be a software engineer familiar with the new console suggested that a Xenon chip would sit alongside the main AMD APU, letting gamers use their existing discs without having to download the games from Xbox Live and play them through software emulation.

STORAGE AND BLU-RAY

Despite backing the HD-DVD, which lost (badly) to Blu-ray in the HD disc format war, the Xbox 360 was barely affected by Microsoft's external disc drive add-on. At the time, the expensive Blu-ray drive added significantly to the cost of a PS3 and let the Xbox 360 take the lead on price.

Today, Blu-ray is the most widely used format, and has the capacity to deal with next-gen games, so according to The Next Xbox it's almost certain to be included as the main optical drive for the Xbox 720. However, it's slower to load files into system memory than a DVD disc, so expect to install more games to a built-in hard disk, and there's a possibility that the optical drive will just be used for games, and won't let you play Blu-ray films. Microsoft is backing its Xbox video streaming service heavily on the current Xbox 360, so this isn't an outlandish suggestion.

The most recent Durango development kit documentation leak all but confirmed the presence of a hard disk included as standard - something the cheaper Xbox 360 models lack - and emphasised that games would be distributed on Blu-ray disc media. Although we would love to see a sizable SSD, which would be faster, quieter and cooler than a mechanical hard disk, price would almost certainly be a problem. Microsoft may create different models with SSDs and regular hard disks, although this is currently pure speculation.

An alternative to a physical disk would be memory chips soldered to the board - this would provide a basic amount of storage for every owner and be a lot cheaper than adding the interface and bay space for a removable drive, but limit storage to a relatively low capacity.

DRM AND USED GAMES

Microsoft may be looking to take DRM, currently limited to single-use codes that reward customers that buy their games brand new with additional content, to the next level with the Xbox 720. According to Edge Online, locking games to a single console using similar codes would all but destroy the second-hand market.

The discs themselves may contain digital watermarks that tie them to a specific one-use code, that once activated would lock the disc to a specific console or Xbox Live account. Eidos co-founder Ian Livingston recently went on record to Destructoid, saying that "with the next Xbox, you supposedly have to have an internet connection, and the discs are watermarked, whereby once played on one console it won’t play on another. So I think the generation after that will be digital-only”. Although this isn't a confirmation, it's a firm nod towards what to expect from the console when it finally becomes official.

A Durango Development Kit leak further suggested DRM would be a major factor of the new console. According to the documentation, "Disc media will be used for distribution, but during gameplay games will not use content from the optical disc. An installation system is being designed that will allow gamers to begin playing while the game is being installed on the hard drive rather than waiting until the installation is complete." This suggests that all disc-based games will install files to the internal hard disk, then be used simply to detect the original media is being used.

It also mentioned an always-on internet connection, used to install system updates and game patches invisibly in the background. Based on the wording of the documents, the console could even stay connected in standby mode, ensuring your games are always up to date when you come to play them.

However, there is hope - Polygon has suggested that always-on DRM won't be forced by Microsoft, but will instead be up to the discretion of each publisher. If they choose, they can force players to stay connected, or turn off the DRM completely for single player titles and let them play offline.

CONTROLLERS

We are of the opinion that the Xbx 360 controller is among the best around, so we're hoping that Microsoft doesn't change the formula too drastically for the Xbox 720. Recent reports have suggested the new pad is likely to be similar, albeit with a few changes - Kotaku suggests it will keep the button, trigger and analogue control stick layout as the current model, with the potential to gain a touch-sensitive strip, similar to the one shown off by Sony for its PS4 Dual Shock 4 controller, in order to add news ways to interact with games and the Xbox Dashboard.

Microsoft isn't stopping there though - it's apparently also looking at alternative control methods including Smartglass, which lets you use your smartphone or tablet to display secondary information, and an updated Kinnect camera, although we can't say we're too thrilled at the possibility of further experiments into motion-controlled gaming.

SPEECH RECOGNITION

The Xbox 360 has supported voice control, using the optional Kinnect camera, for some time, but according to The Verge the Xbox 720 will go a step further. Wake on voice, natural language controls and speech-to-text were just a few of the potential new features listed.

If you're an iPhone user, you might already be experienced with Natural language - it's the system used by Apple's Siri service to recognise questions, and could mean gamers are able to quickly reply to messages over Xbox live, resume playback from a partiuclar point if you were half way through a film, or get recommendations on what to play based on their most frequently played game genres.

There's also a possibility that the next generation Kinnect sensor will be able to detect the number of people in a room based on voice, and suggest appropriate multiplayer games based on how many are looking to play.

SKYPE

Microsoft now owns Skype, having bought the best-known VoIP provider in 2011, so it makes sense that the service will come integrated in the Xbox 720. According to CVG, Skype will be the default communications platform in place of the standard Xbox Live chat system and Messenger service, although we'll believe it when we see it - it's far more likely to appear as a stand alone app and sit alongside Microsoft's own messenging service.

ILLUMIROOM

Microsoft demonstrated its IllumiRoom concept in a YouTube video, showing what would be capable on next generation hardware. Designed to extend the gaming experience beyond the TV using a projector to send effects around the room, it creates a much greater feeling of immersion rather than being constrained to a single screen.

However, the company made an announcement several days after publishing the video, saying the first public demonstrations wouldn't be taking place until July - months after the official unveiling and even after E3. That's not to say the technology won't some day make it into the new console, but it looks highly unlikely to be a part of the reveal event.

PRICE

Console manufacturers frequently sell their systems at a loss, especially to early adopters, so it's tough to put a price on the Xbox 720. Rumours suggest it will cost $299 in the US, but that sounds too low to us - we'd expect it to cost around £299 here in the UK. Of course, competition will affect the final price, so Sony's decisions regarding the PS4 will be a key factor in Microsoft's strategy.

Current speculation is that both consoles will ship for around $400 (roughly £250 excluding taxes), but you may have to pay more for your games compared to the current generation. Analysts including Michael Pachter have predicted that both Sony and Microsoft will charge an additional $10 per title to recoup the added development costs of working with next-generation hardware. In UK terms, this could mean a jump from £49.99 to £59.99 on triple-A new releases.

RELEASE DATE

Originally expected to coincide with E3 in June, there was always a possiblity that Microsoft would announce its new console ahead of time - that has all but been confirmed with the #XboxReveal event now set in stone for the 21st of May. This date is apparently later than planned, in order to let the fallout from one executive's comments about always-on internet connections die down - more on that below.

A 2013 release date for the Xbox 720 looks likely - at least in the US. Both the original Xbox and the current 360 both launched in the US in the month of November, so the consensus is that Microsoft will attempt to do the same a third time. We would expect a near-simultaneous release here in Europe, although it depends on whether Microsoft is confident it can meet demand.

Current industry rumours point to the PS4 launching in October, potentially one month ahead of the Xbox 720. The information comes from Colin Sebastian, at Baird Equity Research, who spoke to a lot of companies at CES 2013 involved in games development and distribution. His note for investors, published on GamesIndustry International, outlined the company's beliefs on the next-generation consoles.

This should mean that most of the English-speaking world should have a shiny next-gen console in time for Christmas, presuming of course that Microsoft can manufacture enough to meet demand – and that demand is going to be huge.

CONCLUSION

As you can see, information on the Xbox 720 is very thin on the ground - even at this late stage. All this article can do is apply a little logic to the most prevalent rumours out there. We'll be updating it though as more information comes to light between now and the launch.