Much like with a potential fifth PlayStation system, there are lots of rumors regarding the next Xbox console. We do know that there may be up to two systems in development under the code name Scarlett. But the latest rumors regarding the next Xbox console are including some interesting hardware information.
Like most rumors these days, it started on the Xbox One reddit (via WCCF Tech). The rumor continues the idea that there will be two different types of systems: a traditional console and a console that will stream games.
The streaming console, which is under the code name Lockhart, could be priced at $249 and would have the following:
- CPU: Custom 8 CORES/16 THREADS ZEN 2 CPU
- GPU: Custom NAVI @ 4+ TERAFLOPS
- Memory: 12GB GDDR6
- 1TB NVMe SSD @ 1+GB/s
- DIRECTX Raytracing + MS AI
The traditional console, code named Anaconda, could be priced at $499 and would have the following:
- CPU: Custom 8 CORES/16 THREADS ZEN 2 CPU
- GPU: Custom NAVI @ 12+ TERAFLOPS
- Memory: 16GB GDDR6
- 1TB NVMe SSD @ 1+GB/s
- DIRECTX Raytracing + MS AI
The rumor says that both consoles would launch during the 2020 holiday season, with development kits starting to roll out around April or May of this year following GDC 2019 in March. It would also be fully compatible with the Xbox One, and would keep the Xbox and Xbox 360 backwards compatibility.
Of course, these are just rumors. But the plot thickened when a verified ResetEra forum user confirmed some of the information, such as storage and raytracing. But it also said that the Lockhart console is not streaming, the codename for the SoC is Anubis, and the MS AI is not part of the hardware. They, like the rumor, suggested more information would be coming out at GDC.
The initial rumor post also suggested that Microsoft was interested in acquiring more game development studios, the most notable being IO Interactive (Hitman series) and Platinum Games (Bayonetta, Nier: Automata). This would follow the company acquiring five studios last year, including Compulsion Games and Ninja Theory.
