After earlier rumors suggested that Microsoft’s next Xbox will be powered by an AMD GPU, new information Monday points to an AMD CPU as well, opening the door for an advanced integrated offering from the struggling chip maker. According to sources speaking with Bloomberg, Microsoft will use an AMD solution that combines the company’s Jaguar CPU technology with a 7000 series GPU. This closely matches the hardware specifications for Sony’s PlayStation 4, which was announced in late February.
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Microsoft’s current Xbox 360, released in 2005, utilizes a PowerPC-based CPU. The switch by Sony and Microsoft to x86-based CPUs is driven by both cost concerns and an effort to ease the development process for games and applications. This means potentially more games for Xbox owners, but also means that previous generation titles, written for the PowerPC architecture, won’t be able to run natively on the next Xbox console.
The switch to an x86 CPU means more games, but also means that previous generation titles won’t be able to run natively on the next Xbox console.
Backward compatibility has long been a desired feature for console owners. The Xbox 360 maintained backward compatibility for most original Xbox games and the PlayStation 2 could play nearly the entire catalogue of original PlayStation games. The PlayStation 3 also launched with backward compatibility, but Sony removed the feature to save space and money after the second revision to the console.
With backward compatibility now likely absent from the next Xbox and the PS4, gamers will have to rely unconventional methods to play old games on new hardware. Rumors suggest that a future streaming service similar to the ill-fated OnLive could provide PS4 owners with the ability to play older games remotely.
Such a service is far from a perfect solution, however. It will likely have the same latency issues that plagued OnLive, be of lower quality than native rendering, and cost money. For those who are only looking to play older games for the first time these issues may not be a deal breaker, but those who already own retail copies of the games will be forced to pay to play them again. The best solution therefore seems to be to keep an older console in the media cabinet in addition to a new PS4 or Xbox.
Microsoft is rumored to announce the details of its next console within two months, with Microsoft journalist Paul Thurrott suggesting that Tuesday, May 21 is the likely announcement date. Both the unnamed Xbox and PS4 are expected to ship in time for the 2013 holiday season.
