Speaking at the Tokyo Game Show, Xbox Senior Director Of Product Management and Planning, Albert Panello, has today revealed that Microsoft’s next-gen console won’t support vertical orientation due to its disc drive.
In an interview with GameSpot Panello said “We don’t support vertical orientation; do it at your own risk”, before going on to clarify that this isn’t – as you may expect – due to the system requiring ventilation or such, but rather an issue Microsoft seem to have with the Xbox One’s Blu-ray drive.
“It wouldn’t be a cooling problem, we just didn’t design the drive for vertical. Because it’s a slot loading drive, we just didn’t design it for both” Panello explained.
Of course, The Xbox One isn’t the first system to feature a drive like this; both Sony’s PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 machines feature similar slot-loading drives, and allow users to lay the console flat, or stand it upright, as they so please and without problem.
Panello also quoted the unsurprising Microsoft statistic that “80 percent of people, believe it or not, have their Xbox [360] horizontally” – there are known issues with the earlier 360 models damaging discs when they’re vertical, however, so maybe that’s a deciding factor, rather than user choice alone?
The Xbox One is scheduled for release in the UK on November 22nd, for £429.
Source: GameSpot.
Scythegpd
Slight amendment –
Microsoft: Purchase Xbox One “At Your Own Risk”
Seriously though, you just can’t make it up any more!
arrybags
As i saw posted somewhere else. Yes 80% have them horizontal. But the 20% that don’t is over 15.5 million consoles!
tactical20
I try to keep pretty much everything in my life horizontal!
ron_mcphatty
Do you now? ;)
SH Number 7/Mini-Lipscombe
You’re a fool if you ever want you console vertical unless you have supports for it. I don’t see this as an issue at all.
Scythegpd
Except they’re saying its at your own risk. Note they’re not saying “at your own risk WITHOUT SUPPORTS”. They’re quite clearly saying with or without supports, as in vertical full stop
Tuffcub
That’s because you’re a short arse and can’t reach the top of the console when it’s vertical.
boeboe
hah. that is all
cam the man
Yep, that’s all that’s needs to be said.
Starman
Non story of the day.
HunterGatherer
Keep telling yourself that. In denial much? Guessing which lame dog you preordered
Starman
Haven’t got any console pre ordered actually. And I don’t even know what your point is.
Starman
So you’re saying that its a worthy story that the x1 cant be used on its side, something they said early on? Its hardly a killer feature is it?!!
Might ask @yosp if the ps4 works upside down and then expect a big furore about it.
CrawFail
How do they know 80% of users have the console flat??!! Proof that Kinect is watching!!!!!
*ahem*
What a load of pish. For a company that loves statistics they seem to fail to acknowledge that 80% of gamers still have no confidence in them, 80% of Windows 8 users wish bad things upon them and 80% of music listeners chose an iPod over Zune when Ballmer laughed it off.
Yes, I’ve pulled this stats out of my arse in a desperate attempt to prove a point just like MS do on a frequent basis.
Amphlett
“I’ve pulled this stats out of my arse” – I hope you washed your hands afterwards.
grindborus
Where’d he get that data from? There are gyro-sensors in xboxes. You read it here first.
BULLofDOOM
Actually there is a sensor, it alters the ring of light to show how how many players and which slot they are connected to in both positions. Probably the only useful feature that didn’t incur additional charges ;-)
carson321
as if devices haven’t been around for donkey’s years that have vertical slot loading disc drives………..
Nismo400R84
Turn it on its side and make your room look like its been invaded by the monolith.