Does Microsoft even need to build a better Xbox?

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Has the video-game industry hit a plateau? Is there even a reason to make better consoles? Are the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 the end of the line?

Frank Gibeau, president of the EA label at gaming giant Electronic Arts, says it’s hard to imagine how Sony and Microsoft could improve upon their current game consoles. In an interview with ComputerAndVideoGames.com, he said EA is not itching for a “PlayStation 4″ or “Xbox 720.”

“It’s hard for me to conceive what you would do on a PlayStation 4,” Gibeau told CVG. “The displays are already 1080p, you’re already connected to the Internet. … You could make it faster, you could have more polys and you could up the graphics a little bit … but at what cost?”


Indeed – look at some gameplay video from “Forza Motorsport 4,” coming out in October for Xbox 360. The racing game is nearly photo-realistic. It supports Kinect, the new Xbox 360 motion sensor, for voice commands and “looking around” inside your virtual car. And, like most games these days, it will be updated on a regular basis through the Internet.

Of course, there are always improvements to be made. But there’s also room in the Xbox 360 and PS3 for those improvements, Gibeau said.

“One of the things that we like is that the technology is consistent, and we believe that there are still things that you can do on these systems,” he told CVG. “We haven’t quite squeezed the last ounce of hardware horsepower out of these things.”

Microsoft has already said it plans to keep the Xbox 360 around for a while. First released in November 2005, it’s been refreshed a few times – Microsoft has released different versions with different storage capacities, and last year released the Xbox 360 S with a new motherboard, Wi-Fi support and a dedicated Kinect port (though Kinect still works with older 360 models).

At six years old, the Xbox 360 is ancient for video-game consoles … at least traditionally. But no longer are we in the days of fast-paced hardware upgrades.

Gibeau told CVG. “I don’t see consumers right now banging on the walls for a new platform. They seem to be very happy with their PS3s and 360s. They love the online connectivity, they have great communities and great libraries.”

http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/2011/09/02/does-microsoft-even-need-to-build-a-better-xbox/

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"Does Microsoft even need to build a better Xbox?" :: Login/Create an Account :: 43 comments

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XxShughesxXPosted:

All they need to focus on is redoing the guts of the consoles and put in what PC's surpass in. Better graphics cards, more RAM, bigger hard drives, in just plain make a console that pretty much is a PC. They say graphics are at tip top right now, in exception to Forza, for the most part games don't look that amazing as they say, if you look at Call of Duty these games really don't look the greatest, for Black Ops if you look at surroundings you could find the same graphics used in a PS2.

MatthewSteierPosted:

I really hope they don't try and market anything new for as long as possible. Ive had mine for 4 years and I have never even thought of it needing to be replaced by something new, because whatever they would have to offer today wouldn't be any or much different besides perhaps looking neater. I don't expect a real hardware upgrade from either company for quite a few years from now. (And that people are speculating something new makes me mad)

TheBrownGuyPosted:

Maybe in a couple years

ResolutePosted:

I am also shocked how all these years Xbox 360 and Ps3 graphics are no difference at all.
My opinion, Xbox has better graphics.
Xbox has a outdated DVD drive and the Ps3 has a up-to-date Blu-ray Player.
But soon those developers will finally figure out to make the ps3 graphics better because it was built complicated.
Honestly 2 great consoles can't wrong with either one.

ResolutePosted:

All in all the Xbox 360 is a superior console than the playstation 3.
Honestly if Sony would hire some a better Network Security Staff then I would buy it.
Because I'm tired of dealing with crap from Microsoft,
because their "investgating team" says that my console ban could be mistaken and not be my fault.(My console has never been opened or modified)
REALLY?
Microsoft is crap, I bet they won't unban it so they can get another $200-$400 bucks out of me lol.
But I'm happy I got to get help from a supervisor(FINALLY!);he send the investigation report, after 2-3 months of MS customer support.
I may just buy a ps3 if their price ever drop.
Too much for the Ps3 is asked.
If it wasn't for him then

TTG_DeluxePosted:

Blakeaphobia They already have to downgrade games to put them on xbox, I think they need to make a new one that can handle what pc's can handle.

Ya they should but consoles will never reach the heights of PC Gaming they upgrade PC's for gaming like every month lol.

NaturallyHatedPosted:

AflyNINJA why did you even post this, of course they need to make a new console. imagine games at 90 or even 100fps and games that don't need 3 disks to play the whole thing. and make games that could have 50 players in a single lobby.I'm sure that when ps2 and the first xbox came out, everyone thought that was the limit

I love it when people don't realize that the FPS that a game has, has nothing to do with the console it has to do with the game. And when games come on more than 1 disk it isn't because of the console it is because the disk doesn't have enough space to hold all the information the game has. And why the hell would you want 50 in a lobby on any game whether it is CoD, Battlefield, or any other game? 50 people in any lobby is just too much.

AflyNINJAPosted:

why did you even post this, of course they need to make a new console. imagine games at 90 or even 100fps and games that don't need 3 disks to play the whole thing. and make games that could have 50 players in a single lobby.I'm sure that when ps2 and the first xbox came out, everyone thought that was the limit

BlakeaphobiaPosted:

They already have to downgrade games to put them on xbox, I think they need to make a new one that can handle what pc's can handle.

AnkokuPosted:

I think the xbox 360 is good as it is
But i am only saying that cause i am rich,
and i but a new one when mine breaks :trolling:


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