Xbox 720 requires Kinect?

[andrew8798]

The Xbox 720 rumor floodgates are pouring over. A source speaking to Kotaku and going by the name of SuperDaE has reportedly obtained two Xbox 720 development kits as well as system overview documents, which detail the specifications of Microsoft's still-unannounced next-generation platform.

The first bit of information from the source claims the Xbox 720 will require Kinect to function. According to the source, an updated and improved version of Kinect will ship with every unit sold and will not be an optional accessory, as the motion-sensing device currently is for Xbox 360. For the Xbox 720, gamers will need to have the new Kinect plugged in and calibrated for the console to function at all, the source said.

This mandatory Kinect implementation for the Xbox 720 will reportedly be a benefit for developers. Because every system is guaranteed to have a Kinect unit, studios can program their games with the technology in mind, the source said.

As for specifications, the new version of Kinect is reportedly able to track up to six individuals in the same room at all times. In addition, the peripheral's camera will be able to independently track thumbs, allowing it to know whether a player's hand is open or closed. The camera can also read facial expressions, the documents said, meaning it can tell if a player is angry, sad, or excited.

Another reportedly mandatory feature for the Xbox 720 will be game installs. On Xbox 360, players have the choice of whether or not they wish to install a game to their hard drives. Sometimes doing so yields various benefits. To accommodate the heavy and numerous downloads, all Xbox 720 systems will ship with a 500GB hard drive, the documents said. In addition, games can reportedly be installed in the background.

In addition, the Xbox 720 will reportedly be able to simultaneously run more than one game or application. This is nothing new for smartphones or PCs, but would be a first for any console. The documents reportedly state Xbox 720 games can be put into "suspend" and "constrained" modes, which allow players to pause a game, switch to another title, then return to the first without losing any save information.

Concerning the Xbox 720's controller, Microsoft is reportedly readying a "natural evolution" of the Xbox 360 input, according to the source's information. Xbox 360 controllers will reportedly not work with the next platform, due to Microsoft's "new wireless technology."

As for Xbox 720 specifications, the machine will reportedly run on a custom hardware architecture that features an 8-core, 64-bit CPU running at 1.6GHz. The system also supposedly boasts an 800mhz Direct X 11.x GPU, 8GB of DDR3 memory, and a 50GB optical disc drive. The platform will also reportedly feature built-in Wi-Fi (though it will also sport an ethernet port), as well as support for stereo 3D content in 1080p. Audio will be handled by either HDMI or optical connections and can support up to 7.1 channels, the source said.

Today's report did not mention at all the speculation that the Xbox 720 could block, or in some way prohibit, gamers from playing second-hand titles. Analysts collectively do not believe this is likely. Additionally, GameStop last week said gamers are unlikely to purchase a future platform that blocks used games or restricts gameplay in another way.

Additionally, no mention was made today of whether or not the Xbox 720 would require a constant Internet connection, as was previously rumored.

The Xbox 720 has not been announced and the above information is, of course, not confirmed. A Microsoft representative told GameSpot, "We do not comment on rumors or speculation. We are always thinking about what is next for our platform, but we don’t have anything further to share at this time."

Microsoft may break its silence soon, as the company is believed to officially announce the Xbox 720 during an Apple-style media briefing in March, perhaps in conjunction with the 2013 Game Developers Conference. Competitor Sony is believed to beat Microsoft to the punch and will announce the PlayStation 4 during a New York City "PlayStation Meeting" briefing on February 20.

Microsoft has sold sold 75.9 million Xbox 360 units worldwide to date.

-GS

[Evilution E5150]

everything is better with Kinect

[Brother Nero....Wolfe]

That's cool with me. I hate buying accessories but if it comes with the Xbox then hey, that's awesome. Plus I gotta say--a newer, more powerufl kinect sounds awesome. I hope they make a pc version of that too(or people make some pc drivers for it) because the uses those things have for indie games is amazing.

[Citizen Grimm]

^Kind of where I'm at.

If the new Xbox comes with a Kinect, fine. If they expect me to dish out additional money for one, just so the new Xbox will work, then f*** off.

[Deleted]

The Kinect thing I can live with, though I don't even bother having mine plugged in and I only have the one game for it that I basically don't play, but the mandatory installation... Yeah, I do like to install some games and all, but I sure as hell don't want to be required to. Plus between the Kinect and the hard drive, this thing is going to be expensive as all hell.

[Koda, Master Crunchyroller]

Also, just because every Nextbox comes with Kinect making easier for Kinect integration into games doesn't mean developers will actually really use it. Or at the very least third party studios. I mean look at the Wii U. Every Wii U comes with the GamePad, so it would be easy for developers to integrate the GamePad's touch screen into every Wii U game, but so far all the multiplatform third party games have done is use it to show the game's map and maybe a few touch based controls here and there. Aliens: Colonial Marines will be the first multiplatform game to use the GamePad's screen in a truly unique way.

The problem here is, third party studios want to try and make the games, exclusive DLC for any platform aside, as similar on all platforms as possible. Thus the Wii U's touch screen, the Nextbox's Kinect, and PS4's touch pad, while interesting extra input options, won't be utilized much, or at least to their full potential, with the next generation of games outside of games exclusive to their respectful platforms.

Case in point, Mass Effect 3. On the 360 all it added with Kinect was voice commands for squad mates. On Wii U, they put the game's map and power hotkeys on the GamePad touch screen.

Also doesn't help that it would cost them more money to try and integrate these various platform exclusive control inputs into each version of the game as they would have to hire people to specifically work on integrating those input options into the different platform builds.

So long and short of it, the platform exclusives will make much better use of the 8th generation's unique control inputs than the multiplatform games will.

[Mozenrath]

Sucks to be you, people in the UK, Asia, or anywhere else where rooms will be too small to use Kinnect well.

[Koda, Master Crunchyroller]

Feb 11, 2013 22:18:21 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Sucks to be you, people in the UK, Asia, or anywhere else where rooms will be too small to use Kinnect well.

And then there is that. This will make the Nextbox nigh impossible to sell in Japan. Clearly if this is true, that all Nextboxes come with Kinect, Microsoft is just washing their hands of Japan/Asia. A bad mistake, IMO.

Sure the Xbox and 360 sold like crap in Japan, but completely cutting off Japan will result in several Japanese developers just passing the Nextbox completely and will make them focus on the Wii U/PS4, or the Vita/3DS. Not the big major ones like say Capcom, Square-Enix, Konami, SEGA, or Namco Bandai, but, the smaller ones like Nippon Ichi and Atlus? Yeah.

[xCompackx]

I say this acknowledging the Wii's success, but no game system should require an accessory that developers don't know how to use in a game.

[WorkingInAColeMine]

Feb 11, 2013 22:39:05 GMT -5 Koda, Master Crunchyroller said:

Feb 11, 2013 22:18:21 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Sucks to be you, people in the UK, Asia, or anywhere else where rooms will be too small to use Kinnect well.

And then there is that. This will make the Nextbox nigh impossible to sell in Japan. Clearly if this is true, that all Nextboxes come with Kinect, Microsoft is just washing their hands of Japan/Asia. A bad mistake, IMO.

Sure the Xbox and 360 sold like crap in Japan, but completely cutting off Japan will result in several Japanese developers just passing the Nextbox completely and will make them focus on the Wii U/PS4, or the Vita/3DS. Not the big major ones like say Capcom, Square-Enix, Konami, SEGA, or Namco Bandai, but, the smaller ones like Nippon Ichi and Atlus? Yeah.

This one is suppose to be a much improved kinect that will work in more situations.

[Koda, Master Crunchyroller]

Feb 12, 2013 0:06:20 GMT -5 WorkingInAColeMine said:

Feb 11, 2013 22:39:05 GMT -5 Koda, Master Crunchyroller said:

And then there is that. This will make the Nextbox nigh impossible to sell in Japan. Clearly if this is true, that all Nextboxes come with Kinect, Microsoft is just washing their hands of Japan/Asia. A bad mistake, IMO.

Sure the Xbox and 360 sold like crap in Japan, but completely cutting off Japan will result in several Japanese developers just passing the Nextbox completely and will make them focus on the Wii U/PS4, or the Vita/3DS. Not the big major ones like say Capcom, Square-Enix, Konami, SEGA, or Namco Bandai, but, the smaller ones like Nippon Ichi and Atlus? Yeah.

This one is suppose to be a much improved kinect that will work in more situations.

Japanese homes have really small rooms. Like really small. Especially in the major cities.

And from what I read the improvements are to the viewing angle, as in it should work from any angle. I haven't read anything in the distance.

[WorkingInAColeMine]

Feb 12, 2013 0:11:27 GMT -5 Koda, Master Crunchyroller said:

Feb 12, 2013 0:06:20 GMT -5 WorkingInAColeMine said:

This one is suppose to be a much improved kinect that will work in more situations.

Japanese homes have really small rooms. Like really small. Especially in the major cities.

And from what I read the improvements are to the viewing angle, as in it should work from any angle. I haven't read anything in the distance.

I'm not saying that Dance Central will be possible. I think it is suppose to be a bit better though. And the system will come with it.

I understand Japanese rooms are tiny though. I doubt it will be any more percent of games requiring the clear of the living room space setup.