The Xbox One has been an amazing console, but we’re moving toward the end of its life cycle. That means that Microsoft is looking to the future. The company’s next-gen console is currently codenamed “Xbox Scarlett.” We don’t know what the console’s real name will be, but we do know it exists. In fact, let’s go over what we know about the Xbox Scarlett as well as what analysts are predicting.
Is the Xbox Scarlett One Console or More?
During E3 2018, Xbox head Phil Spencer made some intriguing comments, stating, “Our hardware team is deep into developing the next generation of Xbox consoles, where we will once again deliver on our commitment to set the benchmark for console gaming.”
This statement, in particular the word “consoles,” has led many people to assert that there might be more than one model of Xbox Scarlett under development. Of course, it is possible he simply was referring to the line of consoles in the plural form, but who knows?
Xbox Scarlett Release Date
According to Express.co.uk, Brad Sams of Thurott.com has claimed that Microsoft plans to release the Xbox Scarlett in 2020. Given the source, this is probably a trustworthy claim. Plus, it’s right around when many people believe that the PlayStation 5 is going to come out.
Xbox Scarlett Tech
Phil Spencer talked to Giant Bomb about what the team’s priorities are when it comes to future console technology. He said, “I think frame rate is an area where consoles can do more. When you look at the balance between CPU and GPU in today’s consoles they’re a little bit out of whack relative to what’s on the PC side.” He commented as well that he is “wishing games would start quicker.”
What about graphics? We know that Sony’s PS5 is almost certainly going to run at 4K or even 8K at 60 fps, so we can expect Microsoft to try and contend with that.
Xbox Scarlett Cloud
As it turns out, there is at least one good reason to expect that Spencer really was talking about a family of Xbox Scarlett consoles. Thurott.com has also reported that there will be at least two types of Xbox Scarlett console. One will be your traditional console, while the other will be referred to as “Scarlett Cloud” (or something similar).
The Cloud console would be more streamlined and less expensive than the traditional version. The idea is that gamers will be able to stream games much like movies or TV shows are streamed through Netflix. The infrastructure for the system will be hosted in the cloud. Some analysts have even proposed that models could be scalable to the needs of each customer.
Will Xbox Scarlett Use the Games-as-a-Service Model?
Finally, with Microsoft, one must always be concerned about the possibility of games-as-a-service. And it is a real concern, considering that Spencer told Wired, “I think you’re moving the chess pieces a couple moves ahead, but I don’t think it’s a stretch.” So it doesn’t sound like it is all that likely to happen this time around, but Microsoft certainly is weighing the prospect.
Well, that’s our roundup of news and rumors on the Xbox Scarlett! Keep in mind that very little can actually be confirmed yet. So take all of this with a grain of salt, and keep up with our updates on VGR. We’ll let you know the moment some hard news drops.