Portfolio Suggests New Microsoft Hardware In 2015

Stephen Chapman (no relation) over at ZDNet appears to have stumbled onto something of a gem: an online portfolio of an individual apparently working on new hardware for Microsoft, with a date of 2015.

“Microsoft Xbox: Confidential,” it says, underneath a teasingly vague image of grey and black lines.  “Collaboration with Microsoft’s IEB Design group investigating future user experiences and hardware for 2015.”

Of course, the ZDNet article is packed full of conjecture and wishful thinking, but it’s evident that such a release window would set the 360’s span at the magical ten year period, although there’s every chance that this has nothing to do with the Xbox brand.

“Whatever the case may be,” says the article, “the 2015 time frame is one that gives Microsoft considerable time for R&D, prototyping, production, and marketing planning, so I don’t see this as being too far off the mark from Microsoft planning a big release.”

Source: ZDNet.

26 Comments

  1. Firstly, i totally agree with jaffa man on the RAM and AA issues, always bugged the hell out of me :)
    I`d rather the next generation begin in 2 years, this assures longevity and value for money whilst allowing for the huge jump in tech over the last few years(and the next few).

    i feel the current crop of HD consoles have started to approach their respective brick walls in terms of graphical ability and features, i also get the feeling that the current console market is becoming a bit stagnant, there has been little to no innovation over the last year, its as if the major publishers are running off of a script that says:-
    Release space mariney/middle eastern shooter thingy – hype new awesome RPG – tease new space mariney/middle eastern shootey thing – relase new(and yet very similar)awesome RPG – release new space mariney shootey thing for xmas – rinse and repeat.

    at least some new hardware and hype, plus anticipation would be better than what we have now?

    • New hardware isn’t going to produce any more innovation that we have now, it’s a profit driven decision to rehash the same old stuff, not a hardware problem. We will just see a shinier looking COD.

      • I`d agree with you if it wasn`t for the fact that 4/5 years of technology development is always mirrored well by games companies, 5 years is the jump between the ps2 and the ps3 and just look at the innovation that sprang up after that length of time! even sodding home is innovative(eurgh).
        have you seen the new battlefield engine on the PC?, good god damn is all i have to say about that, thats as big an evolutionary leap forward as half life 2 was back in the day, its time to begin building the next gen dude, its time.

  2. That sounds about right, with Kinect still fairly new they have some life left in them yet within the casual market, not to mention the new Gears and any other big titles that are being developed. Personally I wouldn’t want a new one until then anyway!

  3. djhsecondnature : “I feel it’s more than about power now, it’s about interactivity, connectivity and a whole new web-based world we live in. The next consoles MUST embrace it unless they want to be the last.”

    Well that’s very touchy feely, but correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t the current gen consoles already meet all your vaguerisms? I’m quite sure the PS3 does, unless of course by web-based world you mean Farmville… in which case I would rather rot in hell than see my console conform to that nonsense.

    • Almost missed this as you didn’t reply directly, but what do you mean touchy feely?

      Whilst both PSN and Live are great systems, they are nowhere near the forefront in terms of online capabilities any more. The web, whether people like it or not, is now a huge driving force behind popular and successful mediums.

      Why would I mean Farmville? No idea where you got that from, but your seeming hate from it is quite unwarranted. Any game that gets tens of millions playing a game is worthy of any respect and success regardless of it’s genre. Just because it’s a social game doesn’t mean it should be damned, as equally we wouldn’t want non-gamers doing to the hardcore games out there. If for every 1000 people that play Farmville end up gaming properly because of it then it’s fantastic news.

      Back to my point. When the PS3/360 released it brought a new age in online gaming that only PC gamers had experienced before. As more and more of our everyday computer-based life migrates onto the web (just look at docs/storage/OS/games/etc) the next consoles must embrace this sufficiently unless they want to be out done within a few years.

  4. if they bring out a new and improved X-box machine that does not break and is free online I will be getting it. Think it’s worth M$ releasing something soonish to get their name talked about again.

    Personally I see the 360 as a machine that WILL break, has no decent exclusives (at the moment), cannot do Blu-ray and costs £40 a year ‘maintenance’ to play online.

    They could change all that with a nice brand spanking new machine!

    • The new s model seems to have solved the problem. I’ve had mine on for 30 hours straight (not playing the whole time, but still) and no issue. And i’ve yet to hear or read any reports of failures.

      And i don’t mind paying for LIVE (i also pay for PS+) as it provides a better online service than PSN. For this reason i usually get my online games for 360 and my singles player games for PS3. I’m pretty sure that the 360’s successor will still have a premium service, it’s way too profitable to get rid of.

      As far as not playing Blu-ray’s, that doesn’t bother me. It would be more of a bonus, than a deal breaker for me. If i didn’t have a PS3 i’d just buy a blu-ray player.

  5. I hope it’s not that long. Another 2 years top.

    I hope they’ll still support the 360 util then, for the poeple who can’t afford to upgrade. But i’d personally like to see new ocnsoles from each of the BIG 3 by fall 2013. All with improved/increased online and social functionality. They can all learn a thing or two fom Steam.

  6. 4 more years sounds about right for me as a ps3 owner. 2015 is not as far off as it sounds, it’ll fly by if devs continue to commit to the current gen.

  7. 2015 I think is far to long for a new Xbox!

    2015 is perfect for a PS4 release due to the fact that PS3 had a super slow start.

  8. I bought a 360 but I doubt I’ll buy their next console. I’ll happily wait for the PS4.

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