Only a few hours to go before Microsoft’s latest version of their gaming console X-Box get’s revealed. There has been so many rumours flying around, it’s hard to keep track of what to expect. Luckily the time is upon us, and shortly we will know for sure.
Here’s what we think we know already:
SPECS:
It’ll have a 64-bit, 8-core, 1.6GHz processor made by AMD with x86 architecture and 8GB of DDR3 RAM. The GPU is an 800mhz DirectX 11.x, and will be accompanied by custom hardware to accelerate certain Xbox-specific tasks. It’s also got an ethernet port, an optical disc drive (reported Blu-ray), a default 500GB SATA 2 HDD, USB 3.0 ports, and HDMI out and in ports.
NAME:
There’s a rumour floating that the next Xbox is going to be called Xbox Infinity, but there is not concrete evidence to back this up. While Xbox has trademarked Xbox 8 (which is an infinity sign turned upright), there’s no real indication that that will be the name, any more than Xbox 720 or just plain old Xbox.
CONTROLLER:
Sources revealed that the controller will remain primarily unchanged. It will have the same two analog sticks in the same upper-left/lower-right position, same positioning of the d-pad and face buttons and forward and back buttons. Triggers. Bumpers. Top-center power button. It all seems to be the same, though we can’t tell if any of these buttons have been improved-if, say, the d-pad responds more crisply, if the triggers pull more deeply, and so on.
USED GAMES:
The new Xbox might ditch the ability to play, and therefore buy and sell and trade, used games. Yup, no more used games. We do know that games will have to be installed to be played, though that will take place in the background over the course of play, instead of up front before you can even get into the game.
ALWAYS ON:
This has been a major sticking point. Rumors have persisted that the new Xbox will require a persistent internet connection, presumably at broadband level, in order to play games. And the people have not been amused.
The rumours go on and on regarding the X-Box TV, the Windows Integration, and the mandatory Kinect 2. All we know is we’re leaving it here, and waiting for the actual launch.
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