Kotaku: Microsoft Is Still Planning A Cheaper, Disc-Less Next-Gen Xbox

[Spectromixer]

In June, Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, a new iteration of the Xbox that the company said would "set a new bar for console power, speed and performance." What Microsoft didn't say is that it is also working on a lower-cost, disc-less version of Scarlett, code-named Lockhart, according to four people briefed on the company's plans.

If those names sound familiar, that's because they've been floating around for a while. The earliest rumors about Microsoft's next-gen roadmap, circa 2018, suggested that Project Scarlett would consist of two Xbox models: the high-performance Anaconda and the lower-end Lockhart. In June, however, Microsoft announced that Scarlett was a single, high-end console, which led to speculation and then press reports that Lockhart had been canceled. But Kotakuhas learned that Lockhart is in fact still in the works as a cheaper, digital-only alternative to Scarlett, as the original rumors suggested.

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What we don't know—and what likely isn't finalized yet—is how the pricing will shake out. But it's easiest to think of Anaconda as a successor to the Xbox One X and Lockhart as a successor to the Xbox One S, with a similar performance disparity. Game developers will be expected to support both Anaconda and Lockhart, which some are worried might hamper their ambitions for next-gen games in the coming years.

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When speaking to Kotaku, one game developer briefed on Lockhart analogized it to the PlayStation 4 Pro in terms of raw graphical power, although there are other key differences that might make up for that. Lockhart is said to have a solid-state drive, like both Anaconda and Sony's upcoming PlayStation 5, which is expected to have a significant impact on loading times. Developers briefed on Lockhart also say it has a faster CPU than any current video game console, which could allow for higher frame-rates, although there are other factors that might not become clear until the console is completely finalized, such as clock speed and cooling.



Microsoft's ideal target performances are said to be 4K resolution and 60 frames-per-second on Anaconda and 1440p resolution and 60 frames-per-second on Lockhart. (That doesn't mean that every single game on these consoles will live up to that performance—it's the target that Microsoft is pushing developers to hit.)

Lockhart will also likely be heavily promoted with Microsoft's burgeoning xCloud streaming service and impressive Xbox Game Pass subscription, which allows users access to a huge library of games both big and small, including all new first-party games. Both of those services fit nicely with a disc-less console, and Microsoft has already packaged Xbox Game Pass with the digital-only version of the Xbox One S, which launched earlier this year.

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Sources: Microsoft Is Still Planning A Cheaper, Disc-Less Next-Gen Xbox

In June, Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, a new iteration of the Xbox that the company said would “set a new bar for console power, speed and performance.” What Microsoft didn’t say is that it is also working on a lower-cost, disc-less version of Scarlett, code-named Lockhart, according to...

kotaku.com

 

[speedomodel]

Very interesting. Makes a lot of sense.

 

[ILikeFeet]

Digital being what it is, dont see why most would choose the more expensive option

Edit: oh it's also weaker? Nevermind

 

[Prime2]

Digital being what it is, dont see why most would choose the more expensive option

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Because by the sounds of it the higher end version will be the better one spec wise.

 

[TheGhost]

Nice nice, we will see & know soon enough

 

[Goldenroad]

If they could put out a digital only version with no controller (since XB1 controllers will be supported), and that's what helps them get their price down to $399, I'd probably opt for that one.

 

[BAD]

Hmm I hope this doesn't happen at launch. I want Xbox to not be the brand that holds back multiplatform games this time.

 

[Pryme]

Seems tomwarren was right on the money, then.

Might be a strategy that backfires if games have to be made to cater to the Lower end hardware.

 

[ArmGunar]

What will happen to multiplat game development, Lockhart will be the base model to begin with ?

 

[Deleted member 51691]

Sandwich strategy. I'm not sure if it's a great idea.

 

[VeePs]

Tom Warren suggested this last week as well.

 

[Deleted member 58846]

tomwarren vindicated

 

[Terror-Billy]

I really want a disc-less Scarlett but I don't want it to be inferior in terms of power.

 

[JustinH]

I guess it makes sense that they'd want only one SKU for launch to alleviate confusion... maybe?

 

[JaggedSac]

tomwarren bows

 

[gundamkyoukai]

Wonder when they going to talk about this .

 

[RoboPlato]

Interested to see how this shakes out. Hope it's not lacking too much in CPU or RAM because that could hamper both Anaconda and PS5. If it's only a GPU difference I could see it making sense.

 

[gofreak]

A PS4 Pro in graphical power? :/

The uncertainty about its CPU, whether it's just 'faster' than current gen CPUs per the article, or the same as in the higher end SKU, and this quote, are troubling:

Game developers will be expected to support both Anaconda and Lockhart, which some are worried might hamper their ambitions for next-gen games in the coming years.

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I mean, this type of unit makes a lot of sense for the cloud business, for cutting costs to stream games to mobile vs using Anaconda hardware for that, but if it's hampering dev's hopes for what they can do next-gen, that is not good.

 

[Prime2]

My Main takeaway from this is that its likely they cut the S and the one X will be the baseline for a year or so.

 

[CloseTalker]

Interesting. I wonder what this means for the possibility of a mid-gen refresh. Three separate SKUs on the market at once seems like a nightmare.

 

[modiz]

so

• lockhart is back, gpu performance roughly of a ps4 pro, has an SSD, faster CPU than any current gen console (not really hard)
• anaconda targeting 4k 60, lockhart targeting 1440p 60
• PS5 and Anaconda are around the same performance level and there is no clear winner between them

i really hoped lockhart didnt exist.
seems like MS solution to lockhart not gimping next gen is to make developers target such high resolutions and framerates that basically games wont look all that different from current gen....

 

[TheRaidenPT]

I mean sure it makes sense.. But I don't know I suppose it's nice for those who want to stay at 1080p-1440p.. Or want a cheap version for game pass.

 

[Muppet of a Man]

This is a terrible for consumers, as next gen games will be held back by whatever lowest common denominator is offered from the outset.

 

[Astandahl]

PS4 Pro gpu already struggles to maintain 1440p 30 fps in most current gen games... Lockhart is going to have a better CPU for sure but yikes...

 

[Deleted member 61469]

A PS4 Pro in graphical power? :/

The uncertainty about its CPU, whether it's just 'faster' than current gen CPUs per the article, or the same as in the higher end SKU, and this quote, are troubling:

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They shouldn't support it then. MS will change their tune pretty quickly once third parties abandon their new platform I am sure.

 

[Temperance]

Plenty of people demand next gen be no more then $399, here you go congrats.

Great strat in terms of having better sellthrough during the first year.

 

[Ebtesam]

if it weaker then it's really a big mistake

 

[Mesoian]

Options are nice.

 

[Xando]

GG google

 

[Dougieflesh]

Please don't do this if it's gonna be weaker

 

[VeePs]

Imagine thinking Microsoft has truly given up on the idea of Lockhart.

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Microsoft loves to get cold feet and then hot feet and cold feet again. We're still a year away from launch, so let's see :)

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Quotes from last week.

 

[Kanann]

My PS4, WiiU, Switch never read any disc, so cheaper no disc xbox will be on my radar.

 

[GreenEarth]

Scarlett HAS to be more powerful than PS5 for this 2 SKU strategy to make any sense, but rumours say PS5 is slightly edging out Scarlett at the moment. I can't help but feel like Lockhart will hold back multiplat titles and that's a bummer. Hopefully Lockhart has the same spec CPU and SSD as Scarlett and that it's only the GPU that is lower spec since graphics are much more scalable than the things dependant on the CPU and SSD speed.

 

[Ojli]

Can I please have a high performance discless console?

 

[Jeffram]

They're a year out from launch and Developers are still not briefed on the details?

 

[Alive2007]

I was interested in an all digital Scarlett but being able to play delisted games I missed is worth more than saving $50 or whatever

 

[Necron]

Oh no.
Project Lockhart returns.

 

[DSP]

After how well seemingly SAD is doing, it makes sense. These new consoles are going to be very expensive so having an option that is not about 4K and a lot cheaper is good. The complaints against it are simply gate keeping bullshit.

 

[DntSpwnOnMe]

Didn't the insiders in the next gen thread double down on Lockhart being dead? Guess Tom was right right.

 

[gofreak]

They shouldn't support it then. MS will change their tune pretty quickly once third parties abandon their new platform I am sure.

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It's not like they have a choice, if the publisher needs a sku for xbox - and they will, assuming any kind of decent marketshare - then there'll be a sku for xbox. At least up to a point, they'll pare back the game before they pare back the platform reach.

 

[Ebtesam]

so

• lockhart is back, gpu performance roughly of a ps4 pro, has an SSD, faster CPU than any current gen console (not really hard)
• anaconda targeting 4k 60, lockhart targeting 1440p 60
• PS5 and Anaconda are around the same performance level and there is no clear winner between them

i really hoped lockhart didnt exist.
seems like MS solution to lockhart not gimping next gen is to make developers target such high resolutions and framerates that basically games wont look all that different from current gen....

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This lockhart isn't needed if it weaker than PS5 and Scarelet

 

[Yearsoflurking]

Wow you mean to tell me Tom Warren is right? Who would have guessed.

 

[Deleted member 5604]

Cheaper discless or a streaming focused sku with only native xb1 support is fine, but significantly weaker console that you will require third parties to develop for? You can go fuck right off Microsoft. Hope you fail miserably.

 

[xxracerxx]

Rip out the disc drive and don't pack in a controller and I can see them knocking off $75 (while taking a small hit themselves).

 

[Expy]

Hopefully developers ignore it completely.

 

[Morbius]

This actually kind of sounds like a nightmare for developers?

I know they kind of do this now with multiple consoles but saying it's a PS4 Pro - PS5 in terms of power is a huge huge disparity if we just go according to leaks and confirmed specs and compare it on that baseline when it comes to these two models.

 

[Cactuar]

This is a terrible for consumers, as next gen games will be held back by whatever lowest common denominator is offered from the outset.

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From what everybody's telling me their primary focus is Game Pass and their ecosystem, this must be how they see building it.

 

[thebigword]

I really want a disc-less Scarlett but I don't want it to be inferior in terms of power.

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Same. I'm pretty much all digital as it is with the X1X.

 

[Terbinator]

Aslong as they don't launch at the same time, might not be too bad if they can get down to £100 quid with it again.

 

[Juryvicious]

I really want a disc-less Scarlett but I don't want it to be inferior in terms of power.

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Yeah, this is where I am. Why not both is my question.

 

[NekoNeko]

After how well seemingly SAD is doing, it makes sense

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it did well after they gave it practically away, not sure it will do as well if you actually have to pay for it but a cheap option with gamepass might be appealing.

 

[Slayven]

It makes sense except for being weaker