PSA: Xbox 2 will release "in late October, early November!"

[Zim Hosein]

It's been known in industry circles for months, but the news is now finally starting to leak. You'll be able to buy the next generation Xbox in both America and Europe in 2005, say experts.

While internet news sources today have reported that Microsoft is readying to launch its next generation Xbox hardware in America and Europe in the fourth quarter of this year, Eurogamer has learnt that the specific timing for the machine's roll-out is late October or early November, and merely weeks after the US launch. The exact date is yet to be solidified.

Speaking under conditions of strict anonymity, senior American and British development, publishing and retail sources have confirmed the launch window in the past weeks.

It is also now widely known among British sources that Microsoft UK is currently in the planning stages of a spectacular and unprecedented launch event in central London for the winter release.

While it has been accepted for some time that Xbox 2, currently codenamed Xenon, would be released in America before the end of the year, the news of a Q4 launch in both the UK and Europe will send shockwaves through the industry and gaming community on this side of the Atlantic.

Many have expressed concern that Microsoft is forcing the next generation of console hardware too early, and that the current generation still has much to achieve. The most famous example of this came from then Nintendo of Europe MD David Gosen speaking at an ELSPA summit in London last October, where he lambasted Microsoft for pushing a next generation machine to market in 2005, and even went so far as to question Microsoft's motivation as profit.

"In every cycle, some manufacturer not profiting from the current cycle is eager to kick-start the next one," he said at the time.

EA recently confirmed that next generation Xbox titles would ship alongside current generation offerings later this year, although the certainty of a European release this side of 2006 has been muted: until now.

Microsoft has already publicly snubbed the suggestion of Xbox 2 being shown for the first time at GDC in March, and it now seems obvious that E3 will see the grand unveiling of the machine.

A Microsoft spokesman characteristically swatted away any next gen talk: "Microsoft has not made any announcements regarding the next generation. We are currently very focused on further building the success of the Xbox console today and are not speculating on timing for a future version."

However, it must be noted that with the current lack of Xbox console stock still proving to be a huge problem for retailers and the future Xbox first party release schedule having almost completely dried up, it's an interesting comment for Microsoft to make at the point when every publisher and their dog are busy leaking Xbox 2 software information.

Xbox 2 will release "in late October, early November" :Q

 

[Nikamichi]

YESSS!!!!

 

[SynthDude2001]

I suppose that's cool, although I kind of doubt I'll get one myself. It'll have been four years since the original Xbox launch, so I don't know what they're talking about with "some are concerned that Microsoft is releasing the next generation too early"...

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
I suppose that's cool, although I kind of doubt I'll get one myself. It'll have been four years since the original Xbox launch, so I don't know what they're talking about with "some are concerned that Microsoft is releasing the next generation too early"...

4 years is a long time, but if MS releases the Xbox 2 as the article states, new games for the current Xbox will be hurt IMO. I would like to have seen one more Halo release on the current Xbox before the next generation, Halo was the only reason I got an Xbox 🙂

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
I suppose that's cool, although I kind of doubt I'll get one myself. It'll have been four years since the original Xbox launch, so I don't know what they're talking about with "some are concerned that Microsoft is releasing the next generation too early"...

4 years is a long time, but if MS releases the Xbox 2 as the article states, new games for the current Xbox will be hurt IMO. I would like to have seen one more Halo release on the current Xbox before the next generation, Halo was the only reason I got an Xbox 🙂

Weren't the rumours that the weak ending in Halo 2 was due to the fact that there would be a Halo 2.5 on Xbox Next for launch?

 

[DaveSimmons]

It will be interesting to see if any of the must-buy Xbox titles like Halo 1 & 2 will ever be re-made for the Xbox 2, since it can't play Xbox 1 games 🙁

It will also be interesting to see whether Sony can manage to make the PS3 backwards-compatible with PS2 and PS1 games.

 

[sonambulo]

i bought an xbox for fable. then i waited two years for it. then it sucked. no way i'm buying the next piece of crap.

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
It will be interesting to see if any of the must-buy Xbox titles like Halo 1 & 2 will ever be re-made for the Xbox 2, since it can't play Xbox 1 games 🙁

It will also be interesting to see whether Sony can manage to make the PS3 backwards-compatible with PS2 and PS1 games.

I don't think there will be a problem emulating Xbox hardware using software on next-gen hardware. They haven't officially spoken one way or another, but this is what I imagine they'll be going for.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
It will be interesting to see if any of the must-buy Xbox titles like Halo 1 & 2 will ever be re-made for the Xbox 2, since it can't play Xbox 1 games 🙁

It will also be interesting to see whether Sony can manage to make the PS3 backwards-compatible with PS2 and PS1 games.

Is this because of Nvidia? [sp?] 😕

 

[bluewall21]

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
It will be interesting to see if any of the must-buy Xbox titles like Halo 1 & 2 will ever be re-made for the Xbox 2, since it can't play Xbox 1 games 🙁

It will also be interesting to see whether Sony can manage to make the PS3 backwards-compatible with PS2 and PS1 games.

I don't think there will be a problem emulating Xbox hardware using software on next-gen hardware. They haven't officially spoken one way or another, but this is what I imagine they'll be going for.

That would be good, but I think Microsoft wouldn't do that. Just a feeling.

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: bluewall21

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
It will be interesting to see if any of the must-buy Xbox titles like Halo 1 & 2 will ever be re-made for the Xbox 2, since it can't play Xbox 1 games 🙁

It will also be interesting to see whether Sony can manage to make the PS3 backwards-compatible with PS2 and PS1 games.

I don't think there will be a problem emulating Xbox hardware using software on next-gen hardware. They haven't officially spoken one way or another, but this is what I imagine they'll be going for.

That would be good, but I think Microsoft wouldn't do that. Just a feeling.

and I have a feeling that they will 😉

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
It will be interesting to see if any of the must-buy Xbox titles like Halo 1 & 2 will ever be re-made for the Xbox 2, since it can't play Xbox 1 games 🙁

It will also be interesting to see whether Sony can manage to make the PS3 backwards-compatible with PS2 and PS1 games.

Is this because of Nvidia? [sp?] 😕

They switched from nVidia to ATI and from intel/x86 processor to PowerPC.

So to emulate, they'd have to use a version VirtualPC, which might not run fast enough to be playable.

Remember that most of the game emulators people run on PCs are of ancient systems with 1 MHz - 8 MHz processors that only have dumb 2D frame buffers for video.

 

[Wag]

I don't believe it.

XBox2 is supposed to use Toshiba's HD-DVDs, and the standalone players will just have become available in the $500+ range.

I don't see the XBox2 being in the $500+ range.

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
It will be interesting to see if any of the must-buy Xbox titles like Halo 1 & 2 will ever be re-made for the Xbox 2, since it can't play Xbox 1 games 🙁

It will also be interesting to see whether Sony can manage to make the PS3 backwards-compatible with PS2 and PS1 games.

Is this because of Nvidia? [sp?] 😕

They switched from nVidia to ATI and from intel/x86 processor to PowerPC.

So to emulate, they'd have to use a version VirtualPC, which might not run fast enough to be playable.

Remember that most of the game emulators people run on PCs are of ancient systems with 1 MHz - 8 MHz processors that only have dumb 2D frame buffers for video.

This is getting a little off-topic but the whole 3D architecture will be probably be compatible (since I can't imagine them using anything other than DX as a 3d API).

They need to translate the low-level x86 code to PPC, but all graphic-related code should run "pseudo-natively" on the graphics sub-system. I say pseudo-natively because I'm sure there will be architectural differences that cause problems, but for the most part the R520 should run the code natively.

As for the CPU, yes, it will be challenging but if the specs are anything near what the rumours are claiming, then they should have plenty of horsepower to emulate a P3 733.

As a side note, on potential downside to MS launching this year is that I don't see them using a 65nm CPU since I don't think IBM will be ready for console-level volume on those yet. Since Sony and Nintendo are supposedly launching later, they might be get 65nm tech in, which will allow them to cram more power in the CPU for cheaper.

 

[bluewall21]

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle

Originally posted by: bluewall21

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
It will be interesting to see if any of the must-buy Xbox titles like Halo 1 & 2 will ever be re-made for the Xbox 2, since it can't play Xbox 1 games 🙁

It will also be interesting to see whether Sony can manage to make the PS3 backwards-compatible with PS2 and PS1 games.

I don't think there will be a problem emulating Xbox hardware using software on next-gen hardware. They haven't officially spoken one way or another, but this is what I imagine they'll be going for.

That would be good, but I think Microsoft wouldn't do that. Just a feeling.

and I have a feeling that they will 😉

Whoops, forgot about that thing. My new prediction is: Maybe.

 

[DaveSimmons]

According to Macworld and a couple of other Google links I checked, Virtual PC 7 is slow and has no 3D support.

So don't preorder an Xbox2 expecting it to run Xbox1 games, and don't sell your Xbox1.

They need to translate the low-level x86 code to PPC, but all graphic-related code should run "pseudo-natively" on the graphics sub-system. I say pseudo-natively because I'm sure there will be architectural differences that cause problems, but for the most part the R520 should run the code natively.

Good point, since they can create a custom version of VPC for just this use and supporting only the exact Xbox2 hardeware, they can possibly hack in 3D support.

The real answer is "maybe" -- we don't know if they've succeeded in getting the 3D translation to run (or if they've even tried) and whether the x86 emulation will run at 733 MHz equivalent speed on the Xbox2.

 

[amol]

ANOTHER PAPER LAUNCH?!?! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

It's okay, I have my eyes set on PS3

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: Nikamichi
YESSS!!!!

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[nageov3t]

meh. I'll get excited when I see some games.

games > systems

 

[her34]

if it's less than a year away, i'm surprised hardware info (which slhould be close to final) hasn't leaked yet. hdd? wireless internet? wireless controllers? button layout? hd-dvd or just dvd? backwards compatible?

 

[Schadenfroh]

I have an xbox, only reason was for halo 1. have not touched it since, hated halo 2. I think im the only one that hates it tho, i just like to play games instead of watching cinematics

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Well here is what a recent XBM had to say:

Xenon will not be backwards compatible.
Xenon will not have a Halo launch title, as M$ will drop Halo3 on the PS3 release day...ROFL I thought that was funny myself.
Xenon will have Morrowind 4 and a few other high quality games when it does launch.

Well that's what's been said recently on XBM, plus some other stuff I can't remember atm.

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
I have an xbox, only reason was for halo 1. have not touched it since, hated halo 2. I think im the only one that hates it tho, i just like to play games instead of watching cinematics

halo 2 MP > Schadenfroh

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
I have an xbox, only reason was for halo 1. have not touched it since, hated halo 2. I think im the only one that hates it tho, i just like to play games instead of watching cinematics

halo 2 MP > Schadenfroh

Indeed, but any more than 2 people requires multiple Xboxes and TVs or Xbox Live because 1\4 of the screen is nowhere near enough to see WTF you're doing.

 

[Tom]

dont know what this has to do with it but its a nice picture.

http://www.geocities.com/tihana01b/pics/liz-xbox2.jpg