Update: But a separate source claims an E3 reveal for the new system is 'highly unlikely'
[Update 2: EA has gone back on its no-comment stance and now claims the article published below is '100 per cent untrue'. Develop's source insists the story is accurate.]
The successor to the Xbox 360 console is on desks at an unnamed Electronic Arts studio, Develop understands.
The new hardware, sent to EA last month, is a very early build with no casing – it is in fact being stored inside a PC shell.
EA developers are getting to grips with the tech to create first-generation software, Develop has been told.
“Quite often when new consoles come around they’re packaged into a PC shell, but actually what’s inside is an entirely new console,” a senior, trusted, well-placed source said.
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Microsoft has declined to comment. EA has declined to comment. Develop’s source is not employed at either company.
The source believed, but did not have certain information, that the new Xbox would launch by the end of 2012. The individual expects an announcement will be made, at least in some form, at E3.
[Update: A seperate inside source has told Eurogamer that an E3 reveal for the new system is "highly unlikely"]
In March, new data revealed Microsoft was at the early stages in building the successor to the Xbox 360.
The platform owner had advertised new job vacancies such as Graphics Hardware Architect and Performance Engineer for the Xbox Console Architecture Group.
Microsoft’s new hires will be “responsible for defining and delivering next generation console architectures from conception through implementation,” the company said.
The language of the job vacancies suggested a reveal for the console is years away, but Develop’s source says a shock reveal could be weeks away.
“Why let Nintendo steal the thunder in June [At E3]? It doesn’t want to lose momentum. That’s why I think Microsoft is rushing to make an announcement at E3.”
It leads to suspicion that key next-gen projects are underway at Microsoft’s own internal studios. Some project names Develop has seen would suggest a change of guard.
Specifications for the device are not available, for now. Develop understands that the hardware will feature enhanced support for Kinect with just a couple of alterations.
Over 52 million Xbox consoles have been sold since the system’s launch in May 2005.
Microsoft’s innovative motion controller, Kinect, launched November last year and has buoyed the console’s appeal.
Ten million Kinect units were sold worldwide as of March this year.
“Kinect will keep the 360 going for a couple of years, but Microsoft knows that if it slows down now it will face trouble,” the source added.
Awesome news. And there's no reason whatsoever why the next-gen Xbox couldn't support Kinect... In fact, greater CPU resources could bump up the possibilities, no?
As a PC geek looks forward to a new CPU, GPU, PSU or [insert other 3 letter acronym here], gamers look forward to new platforms, to provide their source of entertainment.
I can't believe I've had my current set of next-gen consoles for so long, without word of something new to replace them.
My only concern, is do we still have developers who can push gaming forward, in any other direction than graphically? PC hardware has moved on in leaps and bounds, but what have they really got to show for it? Nicer environments? Destructible lanscapes? Is that it?
Has AI really moved on in 7 years? It certainly hasn't on the race track, and it doesn't seem to have in the FPS that much. So if we truly are ready for that next step, then I hope that developers are really ready to start taking off those blinkers, and to head out in new directions, rather than nicer looking versions of the old directions.
It's time for developers to go back to being game developers, rather than marketable product creators.
I've seen it too.
It's going to be called the YBox and it will have 5 controller ports (for enhanced social gaming). Further, under the hood the new machine will scan your home network grabbing credit card, social security numbers and other personal detail and it will tweet them to your friends.
Nice work, MS - you've beaten Nintendo and Sony at their own game.
I'm unconvinced this is true...
I think the new xbox will have a dedicated mini chip for running kinect lag free. More Win7/8 integration
That's nice news but.... The Original Xbox had heating problems,the 360 had Worse heating problems...... What's the new console going to do?
Correct. In fact, the main setback for Kinect on 360 is the USB data transfer limits. Since the USB Bus is a shared data bus, the current allowed data rate for Kinect is rather small since Microsoft has to leave room for flash drives, controllers, etc. to also use that bus.
Now on the next 360, if MS were to update the USB bus to USB 3.0 or create a separate bus to be used solely for Kinect it would greatly increase the amount of data they can transmit which includes better detailed tracking of wrist movement, facial features, fingers, etc.
i hope you will be able to play xbox 360 games because they are good and it would be a waste of money if you could not
please drop kinect support that shit is destroying the 360. i want games not some get up and danc emotion controller. seriously i dont want to play call of duty either i want something fresh. like games
@2 Pc games actually haven't progressed at all, especially in the last couple of years. For instance, I have Borderlands/Mass Effect 2/Dragon Age II/Portal II on my pc. I run each on max settings and even increased textures downloaded for Dragon Age II, and I have to say the difference between max settings in these games and the xbox 360 are barely different.
To top it off, I have an ATI 6850 which isn't top of the line by any means. So I'm running max settings on new pc games and still getting slightly better visuals than consoles.
I strongly believe DirectX is the cause of this and we need to start pushing boundaries in game development, both pc and console.
To #8, quit whining, the motion controls in Kinect have been used for far greater applications then dancing. I heard rocks and sticks were a favorite past time for Neanderthals, you should try that.
Further examination of your article #2 and I see you actually say PC hardware has progressed, not games. MY BAD, lulz. (I still mean what I said to #8 tho)
The 360 slim was a good investment... 12 months and they got its predecessor in a nappy...
the 360 slim had dedicated port for kinect, not slower usb... plus one cpu/gpu chip, not two seperate chips, lower wattage, thinner dye, whisper fan, hardly heats up at all...
Id expect more ram, kinect integrated, double specs of the 360, 1tb hdd, (they probably want to cloud the console for saves and pics/vids)
Loving the news, I want to see the next Gen Xbox.
2GB GDDR5 ATI Graphics running Dual core GPU 2.5GHZ Hyper threading.
1GB DDR5 1,000MHZ Ram Direct FSB to CPU.
CPU should be an 8 Core 4x Threads per core Chip, Clock speed 3.3ghz with auto overclocking if needed.
Internal storage of 20GBs on every motherboard built-in standard. Arcade model 160GB, Pro 250Gb, Pro+ 500GB and Pro++ 1TB. The 20GB flash storage would be for pure caching of pictures & Game data.
Cooling system should be same as Model (s) has now. If it works don't fix it.
If Microsoft keep the hardware almost the same as current 360 then backwards compatibility could be done within the console are not software based
I'm sure there are some very early 'dev' kits out for the next console from Microsoft. I doubt they will have anything ready until at least the back end of 2012. To be honest, who cares i'm currently happy with the power of my current consoles. No need for an upgrade just yet, unless you own a wii which is just basically a gamecube with simple motion control which is well over due a refresh....Scratch that just get rid of Nintendo and just keep Sony and Microsoft.
Why update the story with another anonymous source when actual EA spokesman Jeff Brown has said "This story is a total fabrication – 100 percent not true"
http://www.industrygamers.com/news/xbox-360-successor-story-total-fabrication-says-ea/
We posted stories reporting on EA's claim just as you put in your comment...
You do realize that a console is a pc right ?
"Why let Nintendo steal the thunder in June [At E3]? It doesn’t want to lose momentum"
although this rumour is already categorically declared false. (ofc it would in any case)
How does he know what nintendo has in store?
I think all these rumours are muzzles to nintendo's hype. Both Sony and MS don't let Nintendo breath without a follow up lately. There is a lot of money involved, a lot of money lost, and they all have enough to worry about with iphoneipad already.
Sony announced 4 new "tablets" and other game related devices with PS branding on them in a period of 3 months. Even one with dual screen. :) That means one thing imo. Panic.
It wouldn't make much sense for MS to bring a new console out right now... they are already at a loss and they just started making up for it with Kinect which is a really cool peripheral. I would think that analysts are correct when they say that Sony and MS new consoles will be out 2013 at the earliest with most possible 2014.
It would make more sense for them to wait and see what nintendo did, so they make something much better as a response. Last time Nintendo caught them sleeping the hardcore dream. It had a very negative effect on both.
http://www.controversy.typepad.com/
That website is the one that explains a lot of this subject in detail!
After reading that article I can tell you I believe 2014 is the year for the third Xbox.
I've seen the power of Solid State Drives on $300 dollar laptops vs. my Core 2 quad and the cheap laptop runs faster because of the SSD!!! Make it internal. Also I want to see some college computer technology, there's a new CPU/GPU technology that uses artificial inteligence that remaps the board to increase performance. The system gets faster the more it learns.
Even if this was false, The 360 has been out for 6 years, They probably wont bring it out for a year or under. Playstation 1 2 and 3 came within 5 -7 years of each other. Idiots would say OMG not till its 10 years old, sony said.... Well the truth of the matter is they'll support it for 10 years, but just like with the Ps2 the Ps3 came out about 2/3rs of that time. It seems it ciuld be announced as they'll all want to push their way in 2 the market. 360 cant push anymore and PS3 has near enough reached its peak with unch 2 ect . The only things that counter it is the addition of online, with patches to improve upon things. I say theirs a big chance that the next gen console will be announced
Neanderthals ? please, if I wanted to play sports I'd do it outside, rather then wave my arms about like a gimp making actions that don't even resemble the real thing. The whole purpose of playing xbox is to sit down and relax and when I'm playing the only part of my body I want to exercise are my thumbs, so MS and Nintendo can stick there wii fit kinetic bollocks were the sun don't shine.
