Xbox 720, or whatever the 360's successor is called, could feature a strong tablet component, according to a new report.
"There are strong signs suggesting that, like with Nintendo's Wii U, a tablet component figures heavily into the new design. That saucy Windows 8 Metro interface (now also seen on the Xbox Dashboard) just begs to be touched.
"Speculation as to the form it will take has been rife for the past few months, with some even suggesting that the core of the new platform will be akin to a tablet PC that wirelessly connects to a base station, which in turn plugs into your TV.
"If this is the case, a premium Xbox Next setup could feasibly include a base station, a tablet, a conventional controller of some kind, and the recently discussed high-def evolution of the Kinect."
It's certainly an interesting rumour. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has been tipped to make the first official announcement of a new Xbox when he delivers a keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show tonight.
According to rumours last November, Microsoft will pursue a two SKU strategy for Xbox 720, with a pared down system to be released as cheaply as possible and a higher end model targeted at the hardcore.
Comments
46 comments so far...
StonecoldMC on 9 Jan '12 said:
With the number of rumours relating to both the NextBox and the PS4 increasing as every week goes by, at least one or two of them must be real, right?
ricflair on 9 Jan '12 said:
I can't believe it's true, but if it was... amazing. Why don't MS just buy Nintendo if they're going to copy almost everything they do???
groble on 9 Jan '12 said:
all for an extortionately high price which no one will buy and it'll be cut within the first quarter
03b2wgm on 9 Jan '12 said:
I would honestly rather Apple did.
MagicBoughie24 on 9 Jan '12 said:
I just want a box that allows for better graphics and bigger games
DAEDALUS79 on 9 Jan '12 said:
To be honest id prefer a simple box that just plays games and is powered by gremlins. Providing I didnt spill any drinks on it or leave any discarded morsels of food near it, I feel that it would be a recipe for success.
RichPerry on 9 Jan '12 said:
If this does turn out to be true, I'd better get my conventional controller as standard. Hell, I'd be perfectly happy if the tablet was optional.
shogunreaper on 9 Jan '12 said:
This is by far the stupidest rumor yet.
El Mag on 9 Jan '12 said:
Doesn't seem fair, last time I tried to sell something tablet based I got arrested.
photoboy on 9 Jan '12 said:
So will Pachter now accuse Microsoft of living in the past?
budge on 9 Jan '12 said:
I wouldn't be surprised to be honest, the direction MS have been taking the Xbox in the last year.
I don't like the new dash that much.
Headsrinker on 9 Jan '12 said:
Cant Nintendo patent their designs?? If the Xbox is gonna be a similar design, only 4 times as powerful, then people will just wait to buy that rather than buying the Wii U.
TheLastDodo on 9 Jan '12 said:
Think it's time for a dedicated "Gossip" section CVG.
Obscure_Metaphor on 9 Jan '12 said:
what would be nice if it was just a menu of sorts for the console. it would be also nice if I could use my own devices, such my existing tablet or phone. And since Microsoft just put an advert out for app developers with ios & android experience, this may be a possibility.
After all, if you own all the touch screen devices you want, do you really want another that just serves as a big energy sucking remote?
corkscru74 on 9 Jan '12 said:
I'd only want it to be tablet based if it had twin sticks and meant I could take it wherever I go for some (decent) mobile gaming. Not that it would be realistic or feasible to do this.
I find this rumour to be completely unbelievable, if that Metro UI is screaming out to be touched then why bother with Kinect at all? But looking forward to the Keynote speach if it reveals anything about nextbox!
flowerday11 on 9 Jan '12 said:
rumours rumours rumours, i hate reading all of this. Pure speculation taken from market research. So people quite like tablets these days, microsoft will make a tablet based consol. I don't think so, look how successful the xbox 360 is, it's still growing with kinect offering more and more with the coming months. All microsoft have to do is offer bigger and better games with better graphics and change nothing more and the masses will flog whatever they stick their logo on.
please don't ruin consol gaming with tablets, keep the controller!!!!
illage2 on 9 Jan '12 said:
Here is what I want with the new Xbox.
A normal controller, I don't want Tablet and Motion controls to replace the normal controller.
I want to be able to transfer my Xbox live account over to the new console
I want the console to be fairly priced between £150 - £200 is fair I think.
I want the new TimeSplitters game as a launch title!
No Sonic games!!!!
I want 3D to be optional
More power
I want Xbox live to go free
C&C Generals 2 for the next console
Good backwards compatibility
No MS Points system, just use real currency
Games to be fairly priced
Different colours of console to choose from, no stupid limited editions.
The Cheap SKU should include a 20GB HDD at least.
Wi-FI to be improved.
Black Mantis on 9 Jan '12 said:
As corkskru74 pointed out, this is unbelievable because of the likelihood of Microsoft bundling Kinect with the new console. If it's similar to the Wii-U controller, then that would also bump up the price considerably.
Ali_ on 9 Jan '12 said:
Tablet would be a terrible way to go. I can see Nintendo making it work for a handful of must have titles, but not MS or third party devs.
waltyftm on 9 Jan '12 said:
I find that very hard to swallow.
MANYOO4EVA on 9 Jan '12 said:
If this is the case looks like I'll be buying a PS4 in 2014. Would rather have an Xbox but cannot stand this tablet cr@p.
All I want is a console to play games in my own home. Is that too hard to understand?
Just hope Sony sort out the PSN, as it s**t in my area where as Xbox live works perfectly.
Toasted_PSP on 9 Jan '12 said:
Actually its not that crazy if you think about it. Some sort of additional screen via a tablet style device seems possible. Whether that turns out to be the main controller, a side add-on for certain games or an option extra for system controls is a totally different thing.
Games companies have been toying with this idea for years now with
Dreamcast - VMU
Gamecube - GBA link
PS3 - PSP remote play
Wii U
Vita is said to be able to connect to the PS3 (And presumably PS4)
I don't think its the stupidest idea ever that MS will have some sort of connection between Nextbox and Windows Mobile OS.
laughing-gravy on 9 Jan '12 said:
Pachter is an idiot! Apparently according to him there will be no new announcements made at E3, when sources at both M$ and Sony say there will be. That guy lives in a dream world!
B_G_G on 9 Jan '12 said:
Fu ck the fu ck off.
gmcb007 on 9 Jan '12 said:
Oh just shut the f**k up about these 720 rumours. It's only January and E3 won't be until May. Will we have at least 2 rumours a week till then? By May this next gen console (which hasn't even been announced yet) will be in every single shape and form plus the additonal 200+ features.
Xbox 720 will come with extra 4 buttons
I got that from my source. Proof? Well that's why they call it a rumour! It's utter bulls**t.
bjjcjc on 9 Jan '12 said:
PevMaster on 9 Jan '12 said:
And in other news, Back to the Future Part IV is coming out next year and will be directed by the excellent Uwe Boll and star the ghost of Ronald Regan as Marty. Yup, credible news.
kmcroc on 9 Jan '12 said:
For the same reason Sony who copies Nintendo also hasn't is cause they can't afford to.
try4life on 9 Jan '12 said:
wow that would hard to swallow.
Imaduck on 9 Jan '12 said:
f**king hope not. Do something of your own MS. The beauty of the 3 big consoles is that each does something different - Nintendo are already doing this. If they all have the same idea, I'm likely to just go back to full time PC gaming and drop off consoles entirely, which would be a pity. This idea just doesn't appeal to me. It's like adding MP to games. It's something I'd have to continuously pay for that I really just don't want. I'm quite happy to simply play my games on the TV or a monitor. I don't need to take it to the bog with me
gypsygib on 9 Jan '12 said:
“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”
? Henry Ford
Sounds like a lot of people on here.
tmulford on 9 Jan '12 said:
Sounds like the sort of thing a corporate board that doesn't understand games could dream up, thinking that they'll be able to use it to put a Windows-based tablet alongside the iPad and gamers will love it because it'll play Angry Birds. So it's very believeable that MS has at least looked at this idea.
voodoo341 on 9 Jan '12 said:
I hope the next generation of consoles isn't all gimmick and no power.
budge on 9 Jan '12 said:
I've heard another rumour which made me cringe, Dragon Age 3 will have multiplayer!
omega_ash on 9 Jan '12 said:
what rubbish the kids that play xbox will get the tablet dirty after when they have eaten jammy biscuits. Not to mention they can play it in bed when mummy is asleep.
flyfletch on 9 Jan '12 said:
Here here, couldnt have put it better myself......Will you all stop yapping!!!
flyfletch on 9 Jan '12 said:
Cant afford it? I think you forgetting the size of Microsoft, they dwarf even Sony....Google it...its all there for you to see.
Balladeer on 9 Jan '12 said:
This.
alan666 on 9 Jan '12 said:
hmmm don't think so.
Imaduck on 9 Jan '12 said:
Well, if Henry Ford had just made faster horses we'd have less pollution, we wouldn't be burning through limited resources, we'd have more reason to keep our lands green and less taxable fuel, .... so.
Izo on 9 Jan '12 said:
We'd then be taxed on Horse feed instead and a horse has to eat everyday, require stables instead of parking spaces, pay more to maintain for the horse's health, be cleaning up horse crap everyday and have to come up with a solution for when the Horse kicks the bucket.
TheLastDodo on 9 Jan '12 said:
Damn those man made volcanoes
Imaduck on 10 Jan '12 said:
Dude I'd still take horse. Imagine a horse showroom with horses spinning on platforms and like specs and s**t written on them
billysastard on 10 Jan '12 said:
not unless nintendo buys microsoft he wont
xxx128 on 10 Jan '12 said:
I am really happy to learn that microsoft is such an innovative and original company.
kmcroc on 10 Jan '12 said:
Thier just as innovative & original a company as Sony is .