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[keasy]

From the essential Nintendo and 'others' website GBAtemp (so it's one of  the best non industry sources there is )....



1. It will be released next year
Xbox 720 speculation hit its frothy peak this week, after Edge magazine published a report online claiming that that the next-generation console will be released some time in 2012. It's not the first time that next year has been mentioned in relation to the console, with T3 also reporting that it might be unveiled at January's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. So, is it likely to happen? Not according to Digital Foundry's Richard Leadbetter, writing at GamesIndustry.biz: "Moving on to the next-gen within 12 months would essentially see Microsoft calling time on it's own profits... for example, 343 Industries' Frank O'Connor has stated unambiguously that Halo 4 is an Xbox 360 title. It's hard to imagine that Microsoft would launch its next-gen console within a month or two of its flagship franchise game appearing on the older console.
Probability rating: 3/10

2. OK, so it'll be released in 2013 or 2014 then?
While looking more likely, it's far from definite, with some suggesting consumers may even have to wait until 2015 for the next-generation Xbox. Others such as industry analyst Michael Pachtner are plumming for the more reasonable-sounding 2014, while still others have posited 2013's E3 as the possible announcement date. OK, so it's all just rampant speculation at the moment, and the people who do know ain't tellin'. Our guess, plucked from our patented MSN Games Random Speculative Release Date Generator: December 5th, 2014. You heard it here first.
Probability rating: 7/10

3. It'll have massively improved graphics
This one's a no-brainer really. For 2005, the Xbox 360's Xenon 3.2GHz triple-core architecture and ATI Xenos Graphics processor packed some serious clout - these days, however, even a modest Sandy Bridge gaming PC can make it look long in the tooth. And with PC hardware improving exponentially, the 720 is going to need some serious firepower to stay in the game. Fortunately, the rumor mill is already going into overdrive, with reports so far suggesting everything from hex-core processors with dual ATI graphics cards to dedicated system on chip (SoC) arrangements. Either way, industry legend John Carmack seems convinced it's going to be at least 10x faster than the current generation.
Probability rating: 10/10

4. It's going to run Windows (sort of)
Those of you who've seen previews of the Xbox 360's new dashboard update (launching on December 6th) will already have noticed a certain, ahem, convergence with Microsoft's Metro UI, as seen on Windows Phone products and the forthcoming Windows 8. It's not hard to extrapolate that the 720 will take things even further, with rumors already seen in the wild claiming that Microsoft's 'integration ecosystem' will see it based upon some version of the as-yet unconfirmed Windows 9.
Probability rating: 7/10

5. It will be entirely 'cloud'-based
With developers already having to resort to two DVDs to pack in all their game content (we're looking at you, Battlefield 3), one of the most tantalizing questions about the next-gen Xbox is how Microsoft will tackle the issue of storage media. With Sony's ownership of Blu-ray presumably making it a no-go, will MS be forced to resurrect HD-DVD? Or create a new proprietary format? Some would even suggest that the new generation will emulate the successes of Steam and OnLive and head for the cloud. While a download only future sounds an enticing prospect, it does raise some questions - is Britain's digital infrastructure robust enough to allow near-universal adoption of full-game downloads, or even OnLive-style streaming? We'd suggest not.
Probability rating: 2/10

6. It's going to be called 'Loop'
OK, so it's almost definitely not going to be called the 'Xbox 720' - mainly because that name would imply that Microsoft are essentially going around in circles, but also because it is, well, really quite bad. The current frontrunner on the Internet Speculation-o-meter is that it will be known as the 'Xbox Loop', which is only fractionally less rubbish. Fortunately, Richard Leadbetter is also keen to pour water on this rumor - which emanates from the same MS Nerd blog as the Windows 9 story - as well: "it sounds like another project entirely - if it exists at all".
Probability rating: 3/10

7. Games are already in development for it
Ah, at last something we can be fairly certain about. Maybe. There's certainly reports suggesting that Xbox 720 dev kits are already in the wild, and have turned up at high profile studios such as Ubisoft Montreal. Unfortunately, it would seem the case that these are in fact 'target boxes' - a collection of off-the-shelf components that give a rough equivalent of the intended next-gen spec. Still, it's promising news - if studios have a rough prototype of the hardware, you can bet your ass they're going to be using it. There's also rumors that the 'proper' developer kits will be delivered by Christmas - although it's apparently from the same source that told us the 720 will be released next year. So don't hold your breath just yet.
Probability rating: 6/10

8. Kinect will be fully integrated
"With total sales passing the 10 million units mark over 8 months ago, it's fair to say that Kinect has done a lot extend the lifespan of the Xbox 360 - it would therefore make it pretty darn likely that Kinect-like features are going to be the forefront of the 720 hardware. Our old friend MS Nerd agrees, going as far as to claim it will also "be cheaper than 360, further enabling Kinect adoption." Whether his claims are accurate only time will tell, but it would be extremely surprising for Microsoft to drop such a successful technology from their next-generation hardware. Just so long as they don't drop the traditional gamepad as well - then we'd be REALLY angry.
Probability rating: 9/10

[Cricky]

Interesting.  I'd thought the arrival of Onlive might affect the next generation of consoles.  I see BT are doing Onlive subscriptions and a console with their high speed internet.  Surprised it might not be called the 720.  I've bean hearing that for so long I've come to expect that will be the name.  Loop?  

[corroded]

Games look pants on onlive though... 720p and low settings, and lots of corruption in fast games (DiRT3 looked flipping awful)

[Cricky]

True but you could play  games on systems you wouldn't be able to normally so as long as you have a good net connection you don't need a top range machine.  Haven't tried it myself but I hear its not bad.  Whether it'll last though....

[Thermalsig]

I'm behind the curve here, but I can't see MS  basing their business model that is reliant on a shaky infrastructure. I can see the possibility down the road, but the pipes just aren't fat enough out consistent enough to support a cloud based service only. I see physical media as a must for a few years yet, even as it becomes less relevant more so as time passes.

Sent by  Droid X while sniping squirrels from my roof.

[nnex]

i say lets wait and see what happens at CES, E3 or Gamescon this year.
i doubt it but it would be awesome to get and announcement of a new xbox this year.

i actually have started to "aqcuire" some money every month out of the householdbudget
to secure a little moneystash for when it hits the stores. that way the wife won't bitch that i
would just "waste" around 600 euro's of our budget *lol*

the moneypot is hidden, it's safe...and all mine!!!-)

[corroded]

I can't see MS releasing this year, I think even the Playstation 3 is heading towards it's twilight... I don't think either has enough grunt to compete graphically with a high end PC at the moment.

I'd like to see the PS properly use OpenGL to be honest, rather than it's cut down implementation..  it's completely different architecture is hampering it's development, and it's supposed difficulty to program for is a stupid excuse, and increases development costs.

I don't really see the Xbox 360 successor (cos the 720 is the stupidest name ever) being out this year at all... the gulf between the consoles and PCs graphically will continue to grow, except with lazy developers that only build for the 360, then port to the PC, and PS3.

[nnex]

a rather nasty rumour has popped up at the gamewebsite i freelance for.

at CES 2012(jan 10 trough jan 13) microsoft will hint at their new "console" and it will be fully revealed at E3 2012 (releasedate shall not be given yet)

the crappy rumour is that it's supposed to be something like the Wii U...tablet based.....

lets hope it's all rumour but different sites we team up with heard the same news.

[Wooster]

I don't really see the Xbox 360 successor (cos the 720 is the stupidest name ever) being out this year at all... the gulf between the consoles and PCs graphically will continue to grow, except with lazy developers that only build for the 360, then port to the PC, and PS3.

I'm hoping that if it's based on Win 8, game development might converge again.

[corroded]

It's basically converged at the moment!! Minor tweaks for new DX versions not withstanding.

[Wooster]

Diverged you mean, given that PC, 360 and PS3 are three different OS's.
Still, it's way too soon to tell what OS (or parts thereof) they'll use on the 720 and it'll turn out to be a vain hope.



...But, given current trends, it wouldn't come as any surprise to find that we'll find that future games aren't hamstrung by ageing console hardware any longer, but by their portability onto tablets and smartphones.
(Didn't Keasy mention rumours along those lines coming from sources close to Sony?)
...so same shit, different year. 

[Thermalsig]

Imo, given ask that we've all heard about M$'s intention for an AIO OS, I think they will try for one base OS that is tailored for each piece of hardware, ie..Xbox, phone, pc and tablets. If they could pull that off well with something akin to DLNA, they could actually have something on their hands. I already have a "feature" tv and bd player and a "smart" media player/game platform, but they don't talk to each other. I think Lenovo has got their hands on something with their new "smart" tv's.  Snapdragon dual cores running Ice Cream, built into a 35" tv. Give me a tv @  55" with the Tegra 3 and some fast memory and storage. For the most part I could give up my pc, bd player, Roku and all current consoles. That may soon be the future. It's the one I want....

Sent by  Droid X while sniping squirrels from my roof.

[corroded]

Diverged you mean, given that PC, 360 and PS3 are three different OS's.
Still, it's way too soon to tell what OS (or parts thereof) they'll use on the 720 and it'll turn out to be a vain hope.



...But, given current trends, it wouldn't come as any surprise to find that we'll find that future games aren't hamstrung by ageing console hardware any longer, but by their portability onto tablets and smartphones.
(Didn't Keasy mention rumours along those lines coming from sources close to Sony?)
...so same shit, different year. 

Not really... if you just assume a Xbox 360 is just a limited PC, which it is... it's why most dev houses write for the Xbox, which is their PC port in the most part. The PS3 gets it's own special attention, as it has different limits and engine requirements often.

PC and Xbox development are intertwined at the moment, which is why most PC development seems to be hamstrung in a DX9 era. Unless Sony embraces DirectX, which it won't... or Microsoft embraces OpenGL (LOLOLOLOL), I don't see proper convergence on the cards. The main titles need to work on the consoles, and the consoles can't do what a PC can.

Realistically... it would make sense for the PC and 360 to go OpenGL again... which also means Linux becomes a viable gaming platform.