SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
The next-generation Xbox console referred to as "Project Scarlett", scheduled for release in late 2020, will feature a custom AMD "7nm" Zen 2 CPU and Navi GPU. The console will include hardware support for real-time raytracing, and include an SSD for significantly faster loading times. The console will also be able to use the SSD as virtual memory. The console will support up to 8K (7680×4320) resolution and 120 frames per second (presumably not at the same time for most - if any - games, but the console should at least support 8K video streaming). These details are extremely similar to those that were revealed about Sony's next PlayStation console.
Microsoft's xCloud streaming game service will launch in October 2019. It will allow gamers to stream games from Microsoft or those stored locally on their Xbox One consoles.
Also at The Verge.
See also: PlayStation 5's Beefier Hardware Could Help Mitigate Indies' Optimization Troubles, Says Ubisoft Dev
Related: Microsoft, Sony Partner on Streaming Games, Chips and AI
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Tuesday June 11 2019, @01:00AM (1 child)
And the AAA games available will include playing sports, driving stuff, and shooting at stuff, with more pixels.
In the meantime, low-rez Nintendo will keep making games which are actually fun to play, alone or with the kids.
I'm glad the whole market is being addressed, and those guys are trying to keep up with PC power. But I know where my money is going.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday June 11 2019, @01:57AM
In a move nobody could have predicted, Nintendo is censoring games less while Sony is amping up censorship:
PlayStation’s Censorship Crackdown Has Helped Nintendo Switch Become a Fanservice Haven [twinfinite.net]
That's pretty funny.
Regarding the Switch refresh:
Nintendo could use the better hardware. Handheld mode is going to be where it's at since 3DS is a dead end, and they could bump that to at least 1080p. If they go even further, maybe they can have a more useable VR mode (Switch only does 720p, 60 Hz [gamerevolution.com]).
It's unclear if Nintendo would continue to use Nvidia Tegra, but here are some of the options [wikipedia.org] (it currently uses Tegra X1). Switch only uses 4 of its 8 cores at any given time, so that's the minimum you need for a refreshed successor. Samsung + AMD graphics [soylentnews.org] would be cool but it's unlikely to be ready in time. A new CPU+GPU could support higher resolutions and framerates, and/or boost the battery life.
I assume Switch will continue to support microSD cards. One change they could make would be to allow save games to be stored on the cards instead of internal memory. Support for up to 128 TB microSDUC would also be nice. Maybe they will ditch the proprietary cartridges to save room.
Contrary to my belief, the Nintendo Switch is not necessarily "vulnerable" to being jailbroken out of the box:
Nintendo patches 'un-patchable' Tegra X1 exploit to curb Switch piracy [theinquirer.net]
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]