What will the next stage in console gaming offer? Microsoft gives a hint, with the next Xbox set to arrive next year.
The current Xbox might not seem like it has been around for that long, but the six years it has existed is longer than you might expect. It seems like yesterday that Microsoft made the jump from Xbox 360 to Xbox One, and the next model might be practically just around the corner as well, provided you call “next year” just around the corner.
That’s one of the juicy news items Microsoft has revealed at E3 this year, with the next generation codenamed “Project Scarlett”, and being engineered right now.
Ahead of release near the end of 2020, Microsoft is talking up some of the technology sitting at the heart, including graphics and processing technology from AMD, solid-state storage, and support for 8K gaming, because by the end of next year, we should have more than just a handful of 8K screens.
There’s not a lot of information outside of this, except to say that Microsoft is talking up the new console to say that “Project Scarlett will set a new bar for console power, speed and performance”.
Interestingly, Project Scarlett is also talking up compatibility for accessories and games across the console generations, which should *fingers crossed* mean Microsoft won’t force you to buy new controllers and will let you access your older games.
Here’s hoping that Microsoft keeps its word on that one, because it’s beginning to get a little tiresome keeping a drawer full of games that may not be as compatible moving forward, something every system outside of the PC seems to struggle with.
We’ll know more about Project Scarlett next year, likely at the 2020 E3, but for now, there’s a video below giving a bit of a preview. Kinda. Sorta.
