From the moment that word came through that Nintendo was developing their next console, now revealed to the public at E3 2011, most gamers turned their heads to Microsoft and Sony looking for their next-gen unveiling. While both have been relatively coy about future console development, it looks like a notable developer may have blown the lid on Microsoft’s next platform.
Crytek Studios, developer of titles like Far Cry and Crysis, has revealed that they are working on Timesplitters 4, the long anticipated entry in the FPS franchise, and are planning to release it on the Xbox 720, or whatever Microsoft‘s next console will be called.
The news comes to us from VideoGamer.com, who say that their trusted source at Crytek revealed that not only is Timesplitters 4 in development for the next Xbox, but that it will be reaping many of the marquee features of Direct X11.
Furthermore, the company revealed that Microsoft’s unveiling of their next console should take place within the next 12 months, leading us to believe that next year’s E3 would be the perfect venue.
After the Wii U came out to equal parts enthusiasm and skepticism, it stands to reason that both Sony and Microsoft should take advantage of this opportunity and show each of their new consoles. Despite claims that their motion controllers – Microsoft’s Kinect and Sony’s Move – are the future for the platform, Nintendo has opened up the potential for continued integration with past year’s tech only with subtle advancements, like the Wii U’s new touch screen controller.
Timesplitters 4 being in development is one thing, but it being touted as a Xbox 720 title is certainly another, and, as such, should be treated as a rumor. There are rumblings, and will continue to be rumblings, that Microsoft is working on their next console, but that is only a direct result of the competition Nintendo has just revealed. We won’t know more until Microsoft officially announces their next console or more official news leaks.
When do you think that Microsoft will unveil their next console? Would you be interested in picking up the console day one if Timesplitters 4 was a launch title?
Source: Video Gamer
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I think we will have the next xbox by winter 2013. Xbox needs to attract more 3rd party developers as well as create new first party franchises. And a new console with the power I suspect that it’ll have, will do just that.
I hope Xbox 720 is the fist system to implement a memory stick like storage device for games. Because then developers would be free to make whatever game they wanted and the capacity could be adjusted accordingly.
If they somehow release it next year they’d get a good start on the next-gen war. They’d definitely steal Nitendo’s thunder & leave Sony playing catch-up again.
That must’ve been a typo?
There is no way that Microsoft will wait that long. Especially after Nintendo’s new console reveal at E3.
The Xbox 360 console is already struggling to run games that developers are coming out with. Look at titles like Ninja Gaiden 2 and the more recent L.A. Noire. (THAT game should have been released on PC anyway. The Xbox is just NOT capable of running that game without slow-downs and artifacts.)
The Xbox 360 is already two generations behind in terms of graphics technology. DirectX 11 is the current standard and the 360 can only do DirectX 9. This means a severe impact on potential visual quality and performance.
Q413 would leave Microsoft way out in the cold. I figure there is probably a good chance that the console itself could be announced BEFORE E3 2012. It would be advisable for Microsoft to start making plans to have it out earlier than Q413 for sure as part of why they are lacking in developer relations is because no one wants to develop for inferior hardware. They want their games to look GREAT and run smoothly to make the appropriate impact on the players.
The Xbox 360 just isn’t delivering on that anymore.
I love my Xbox. I really do. But I just plopped down $2,500 and built a new gaming rig for a few reasons. One of the MAIN reasons is the graphical capabilities of the Xbox 360 are waning. It’s already OLD tech. I’m going to start buying the games on PC instead because the Xbox 360 just DOESN’T look nearly as good as PC does. (As is the case with ANY console VS a well-built PC, of course.) But the performance is another major issue.
I’ll also point out that Microsoft is not a company who can take being outdone just sitting down. They’ve got a bit of an ego and aren’t afraid to use it. Right now would be a great time to start making plans for an earlier-than-planned announcement. Sony is in a real bind with this PSN hacking ordeal, but they managed to get their Vita/NGP announced at E3. Nintendo showed off their Wii U but still have us all confused with the details revolving around it. (And knowing Nintendo, they’ll leave us like that for a while.)
Microsoft is not a company who plays by the book. I’m pretty sure they’re biding their time. You don’t have to have shown up at E3 to turn heads, after all. In fact… It could always end up being tactically beneficial to just let everyone else have their moment in the sun.
After the smoke clears and the memories have settled, jar the minds of your customer base with YOUR new product. You’ll have their full, undivided attention. It will remain in their heads as a fresher memory. It’s basic psychology.
But I definitely don’t think that Microsoft will wait so long as Q413. Not with the way development cycles have started to become faster and faster. Everyone has realized that people want newer stuff SOONER and more frequently nowadays.
We seem to be at a turning point in development evolution on many different fronts. For example: Microsoft figured out (after massive failures) that they’ll need to develop a new OS every couple of years rather than every TEN years. Developers of most top-tier web browsers have ramped up their development cycles to ridiculous intervals.
I’m starting to think that hardware will also be affected by this mindset.
shut up, xbox 360 is the best console out, you obviously have no clue