Microsoft’s big announcement this week at E3 wasn’t about games, but the future of the platforms that we’ll play them on. Or at least, play Xbox games on. Project Scorpio is the name of Microsoft’s next big jump in console gaming hardware, a hardware platform that could serve as an upgradeable piece of technology in the future as the Xbox brand looks to move “beyond generations,” much like the SABC did during negotiations with their actors during a soapie strike.
The curious side of this equation however, is that Xbox One, Xbox One S and Project Scorpio games will be playable across all platforms. There’s no actual need to upgrade really, unless you’ve got some severe technolust for Microsoft’s description of terrafloppies and 4K capability. What works on Project Scorpio will work on the other Microsoft consoles. If developers choose to go for cross-platform reach that is.
During the YouTube Gaming livestream, general manager of game publishing Shannon Loftis said that it was possible for developers to choose to make Scorpio-only games.
“Some developers may choose to implement the very high-end 4K–and I really hope that they do,” Loftis said.
But all the games being made right now will run on Scorpio. We’re promising forward and backward compatibility. It’s hardware innovation without compromising compatibility. It’s up to the game development community; what do they want to do.
Look, the possibility is there. I just don’t see it happening very often at all. Games like this cost money, stacks of it. Enough to convince an outlet to give a Call of Duty game top honours. And the best way to recoup all of that investment is to widen your reach across as many platforms as possible. It’s an obvious solution, that has worked for FIFA, Battlefield and Call of Duty which is already my game of the year and pay no attention to my new Ferrari.
Project Scorpio goes on sale next year in the American summer. You can find it on third in the Hammock District.
Last Updated: June 14, 2016
Uberutang
June 14, 2016 at 08:02
Prediction: Scorpio will have ORift support. Those RIFT VR games will be exclusive to the Scorpio console and not XBOX one/S.
Jonah Cash
June 14, 2016 at 08:14
Well to fork out the insane price the Scorpio will cost and then buy a Rift that is also expensive I suspect the third world will rather opt for Playstation 4 with their own VR. Will be a lot cheaper.
Uberutang
June 14, 2016 at 09:10
I dont think the scorpio is going to be that expensive and they will get a good ‘xbox’ deal on the rift by then also. Remember they are moving to 14nm fn on polaris. Way cheaper for way more power. a Rx480 chip gives you gtx980 performance at $200. Scorpio will have more power for cheaper per component than current gen.
Johann
June 14, 2016 at 09:14
It will probably not be more expensive than the current consoles, but I can guarantee you it won’t be cheaper either. The best we can hope for now is that MS gives us some kind of trade back option. Trade in your old xbox one for a discount on the Scorpio.
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 14, 2016 at 08:04
This is what happens when you resort to astrology to determine the future of your gaming platform.
Jonah Cash
June 14, 2016 at 08:12
And so it begins! Terrible news this.
Johann
June 14, 2016 at 08:20
Not happy about this. I don’t mind if you release a slim edition of your console, but to say you now have a better console and there might be a chance that developers make games exclusively for that console then yeah that is going to piss off a lot of people.
ElimiNathan
June 14, 2016 at 10:04
So glad I sold my console. I’m loving this news at the moment so glad they finally admitted the current gen is behind the curve, by the sounds of things Project Scorpio is what they should have originally released instead of the Xbone
The Order of the Banana
June 14, 2016 at 10:33
I’m also thinking of selling my boner, but I am keen to get State of Decay 2… Ugh… what a dilemma!
ElimiNathan
June 14, 2016 at 10:51
Just remember State of Decay 2 will work on Project Scorpio 😉
The Order of the Banana
June 14, 2016 at 10:32
Hopefully the Scorpion boner won’t be always online… because as it stands… this one has stung my wallet to death. The Banana has no money for you Microsoft. 🙁
Microsoft applies the Scorpion deathlock to all their xbone owners… “Oh no.. it’s ineffective”
http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/pictures/finishers/stingscorpiondeathlock2.jpg
oOqUiS
June 14, 2016 at 10:47
I think this is a good thing. Looking at the quility of the games sony has shown, clearly consoles still has lots of time left for great games. But i think there are lots of consoles gamer’s that’s got money and would pay R15000 for a console and get 4k and 60fps. Everything will still stay the same, i still play the same games on my R6000 PS4 than what the guys are playing on their R20 000 gaming rigs. Just Lower resolution and frames. So if you have the cash to pay that for a console, why not?
chimera_85
June 14, 2016 at 15:40
Who cares? All the games will be on PC anyway haha