Xbox One Getting a Newer, Cheaper Model for 2014

[MelodieOctavia]

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A reliable source has told VG247 that the Xbox One will have a new, cheaper model for 2014, confirming leaks coming out of Redmond this week.

Apart from that, no other details have been released. It's speculated that the new Xbox One will be a disc-less system, featuring bluetooth connectivity, and a price point around that of the Playstation 4.

Apparently, this was all supposed to be hush-hush, as Microsoft is pursuing legal action against the leaker.

Source

 

[GameWinner]

Already?
Wow.

 

[Celice]

I saw this marked in /r/games as rumour... I think it's a good caution to take for the time being. It's easy to sensationalize.

 

[Gahars]

So much for Xbox One-size-fits-all.

Seems a bit silly they're cutting around the Kinect, though. It's like trying to get out of a sinkhole by digging through it.

 

[MelodieOctavia]

So much for Xbox One-size-fits-all.

Seems a bit silly they're cutting around the Kinect, though. It's like trying to get out of a sinkhole by digging up.

Xbox One and Kinect might as well be fused together with cyanoacrylate. They would likely drop the traditional controller before they drop the Kinect.

 

[trumpet-205]

I doubt Microsoft will produce a disc-less console, at least not in US, where Internet infrastructure is so far behind (both speed and data cap).

 

[Foxi4]

Considering the whole "One" policy of the XBox One being an entertainment center first and foremost, I find it odd that Microsoft would drop the BluRay drive rather than the Kinect. They've already backed out of the Always-Online and Gotta-Use-Kinect policies, so unless this revision was in the works prior to the "XBox 180" decisions, I'd sooner expect that it's the Kinect that'll be missing.

Either way, a cost-effective SKU would be nice for all the customers who are still in two minds about jumping onto the Next Gen bandwagon. If the system lacked both the disc drive and the Kinect, they could push XBox One Core's at around $350 ($499 - $100 for the Kinect and around $50 for the BluRay drive) which is a damn competitive price.

With Digital Distribution in full swing, I don't think those "budget" customers would terribly mind the lack of a disc drive and a solution like this would no doubt further increase XBox Live's popularity. The only problem I see is the uncertainty as to whether or not people will want to forfeit trade-in disc-based games for a cheaper system. Sony tried this before with the PSP Go with less than stellar results, but then again, we've come a long way since then.

 

[Bobbybangin]

I don't see them dropping the BluRay drive. Hard drives are all the same 2.5" size, no matter if it's a 250 GB or a 1 TB. I've also read here that the Kinect will stay, but they're going to make a patch that will allow developers to take advantage of up to 8% of the 10% of GPU that is dedicated to the Kinect, in order to make the Xbox One rival the PS4 in power. There does seem to be truth to this as Microsoft is seeking legal action against these info leaks.

 

[Foxi4]

I've also read here that the Kinect will stay, but they're going to make a patch that will allow developers to take advantage of up to 8% of the 10% of GPU that is dedicated to the Kinect, in order to make the Xbox One rival the PS4 in power.

The problem here is that even if developers do get that 8% of extra kick, not only will the XBox One continue to be inferior in terms of GPU firepower (16 ROP's versus 32 ROP's, 12 CU's versus 20 CU's (although the specs say 18, there's clearly 20 on-die), the games will also be unable to fully utilize the Kinect, if at all, depending on whether the developer will shuffle the computing power around or not. You can't make up for hardware differences with a simple software update - it won't "rival" the PS4, it'll just get a little bit closer to it. Fortunately, both systems have enough oomph to breeze through the next generation.

 

[Bobbybangin]

You can't make up for hardware differences with a simple software update

Reading about it, I don't think it was a software update per say, so much as a patch for developers to work with. Probably more so on dev kits.

- it won't "rival" the PS4, it'll just get a little bit closer to it. Fortunately, both systems have enough oomph to breeze through the next generation.

I still think, at that point, the difference will be so insignificant that there won't be hardly any difference to the naked eye, if any. Who knows what devs can do with that extra 8%. Outside of that, I don't think there's much more they can do. At least it's something.

 

[Bladexdsl]

you know things are going bad for a company when they release a revision only after a few months!

 

[Foxi4]

Reading about it, I don't think it was a software update per say, so much as a patch for developers to work with. Probably more so on dev kits. (...) I still think, at that point, the difference will be so insignificant that there won't be hardly any difference to the naked eye, if any. Who knows what devs can do with that extra 8%. Outside of that, I don't think there's much more they can do. At least it's something.

That's what I'm actually trying to say - the difference is considerable, the PS4 has twice the ROP's (Render Output Units) and 8 more CU's (Compute Units), 6 if the two that aren't accounted for in the official specs are reserved for something else or disabled. That being said, multiplatform games are made in such a way that it won't cause a massive gap - if anything, the PS4 exclusives will shine that little bit brigher.

you know things are going bad for a company when they release a revision only after a few months!

They say "It's-a-Me! Mario!"?

 

[Hells Malice]

AKA the cheaper box trying to cut out used gaming.
You'll lose more from paying full price for games always than you will from buying the whole, proper system.

 

[Bladexdsl]

are they actually going to make it smaller because that thing is monstrous!

 

[Foxi4]

AKA the cheaper box trying to cut out used gaming.
You'll lose more from paying full price for games always than you will from buying the whole, proper system.

...unless you take advantage of Online sales and snag some monstrously huge bargains! ;O;

are they actually going to make it smaller because that thing is monstrous!

Size does matter, y'see...

 

[Bobbybangin]

AKA the cheaper box trying to cut out used gaming.

You could say the same thing with the PS4 PlayStation Now service and streaming of PS3 games. It's a good way to integrate your consumers into the online experience and persuading them into thinking it's cool. Don't forget that Sony has also filed for and owns DRM friendly, anti-used game and online only patents. They were one of the biggest backers of SOPA. Mi¢rosoft and $ony are both making the push for online only.

 

[Bladexdsl]

Size does matter, y'see...

no one wants a damn VCR in their entertainment unit these days!

 

[Hells Malice]

You could say the same thing with the PS4 PlayStation Now service and streaming of PS3 games. It's a good way to integrate your consumers into the online experience and persuading them into thinking it's cool. Don't forget that Sony has also filed for and owns DRM friendly, anti-used game and online only patents. They were one of the biggest backers of SOPA. Mi¢rosoft and $ony are both making the push for online only.

because this thread is about Sony at all.
That's why I didn't mention it? I don't give a shit.

 

[Taleweaver]

Ugh...lemme get this straight...

There is one totally anonymous source that brings up "cheaper model", and another (reliable) source that confirms this. It further mentions clearly...

Apart from that, no other details have been released. It's speculated that...


In other words: we can pretty much confirm that all the speculations come from people who have no clue whatsoever. I'm honestly amazed that the people who believe that disc-less story aren't laughed off the internet. But since it's apparently this time of year where people believe anything, I'm fine with it. In fact...

I've heard of a guy who heard of a guy who heard of a woman who heard of a guy that the newly featured xbox one won't have a power supply anymore because (quote) "it's simply too expensive for something that customers don't need. A decent power supply takes up a considerable amount of manufacturing cost, not to forget space in the product itself. By eliminating the power supply, we can afford to both make the next iteration of xbox one's (we're thinking of calling it xbox two) will be both slimmer and cheaper. It's also a lot more environmental friendly".

Go on! Spread this speculation on the internet! See if microsoft will sue this leak for revealing their revolutionary future strategy!

 

[Bobbybangin]

because this thread is about Sony at all.
That's why I didn't mention it? I don't give a shit.

I likewise don't give a shit that you don't give a shit.

It's speculated that...

Microsoft has taken legal action against the person who leaked this info, which would make it appear that there's truth behind the leaks.