May 21st Microsoft will kick off its event to reveal what its future console will be and how it will play a pivotal role in the market as a next generation console developer. While Sony had a head start with its announcement this year only giving us a small glimpse of what’s to come. While both Sony and Microsoft have both held events early this year before E3 Microsoft’s timing couldn’t be more perfect with E3 just round the corner.
So the rumours are flying in from all corners of the internet and we’ve seen some pretty crazy rumours over the last few years and they just seem to get crazier as they come in. So let’s get some of our predictions for what Microsoft next console might be like. We’re even go to throw in some of our communities predictions.
To kick off the predictions I’ll start with what I personally can’t wait for and what I hope to see during the Xbox Reveal on the 21st. I’m looking forward to seeing detailed system specifications following the Sony reveal in February a lot of gamers are now wanting to know the specs of the machine before they buy it. We’re going to see some of the launch titles for the next Xbox so possibly a sneak peak at Halo 5? As for system names I’m leaning more towards “Xbox Infinity” just because it sounds cool and is catchy. For always online, well I think it’s always going to be connected to the internet if you have it plugged in via Ethernet mainly for system and game updates which will ease the pain for people who don’t have the world’s best internet and just want to play a game after a long day’s work. It could very well play a pivotal role in DRM. The system is going to be x86 Architecture to make things more developer friendly.
JoeNumbers (Joseph Delaney)’s thinks the next Xbox will be named “Xbox 1080”, the console will also be x86 Architecture with the possibility of it being slightly more powerful than the PS4 because Microsoft’s waited for Sony to announce their console details before finalizing their system specifications. Flat-top controllers with improved D-Pads, alongside the possible sneak peeks at Halo 5 and Alan Wake 2.
Piers (XeWoN) from MyGamerProfile has also sent in his predictions for the next Xbox. Below is what he sent us.
With so many different rumours about the next generation platforms, most people think that the next Xbox is going to be 'always online' and not able to play used games. I personally think that is not going to happen, as there are other platforms on the market that don’t require you to be connected to the internet all the time or even block you from playing a used game. It clearly would be a bad move for Microsoft to be the only one on the market to do this.
Most people that I talk to about the new Xbox being called 'Xbox 8,' think this is because of all the other Microsoft products that have released within the last year, e.g. 'Windows Phone 8' and 'Windows 8'. I however believe that Microsoft won’t be doing the same for the next Xbox, although one rumour is that it will be called 'Xbox Infinity,' but at the time of writing this, Microsoft don’t own the domain name for this. One domain name that Microsoft have registered is 'XboxFusion.com,' although I don’t think this is what they will call it, I have a feeling it will be a new service that they will offering.
As for the power of the new Xbox, I can see it having pretty much the same specifications as the PlayStation 4 and will cost about the same. I feel that the two consoles will be pretty much identical and that it will only be the services and the design that will be different between the two.
Don’t forget you can tune into LagSpike TV’s and Nerd Junkies coverage of the Xbox Event on May 21st at 9:30 am PDT where we will be going live half hour before the event with our predictions and more! You will be able to watch it directly from our website at http://ww.senshudo.tv/events/live