rumour Next Xbox Codenamed "Loop", Runs On Modified Windows 9

[Ironman273]

Next Xbox Codenamed "Loop", Runs On Modified Windows 9

Insider blog MS nerd, which has been right on a few things coming out of Microsoft HQ from time to time, reckons it has some info on the next Xbox console.

Currently codenamed "Loop", the site says the console will have a single main processor that's joined by "assistive cores" for "graphics, AI, physics, sound, networking, encryption and sensors".

To be both smaller and cheaper than the Xbox 360 (it's not specified whether it'll be cheaper than the 360 is now or cheaper than it was at launch), it will also apparently run on a modified version of Windows 9. The console will, according to the site, be designed as a joint venture between Microsoft and "two partners based on the ARM architecture".

All of which sounds interesting. And, with the next Xbox not due for at least another year or three, completely unverified and liable to change (if it's true in the first place!).

We've contacted Microsoft for comment, and will update if we hear back.

Source: Kotaku

[DrJohnSmitherson]

Windows 9, say whaaaaaat! That's pretty awesome.

[Ayepecks]

I'm calling BS on that whole post. An ARM processor would make backwards compatibility a pain in the ass.

[Ironman273]

I'm calling BS on that whole post. An ARM processor would make backwards compatibility a pain in the ass.

Remember that they had tablets running Windows 8 with Office, etc. running on an ARM processor at Build.

[Charisma Veteran]

Loop? I hope they call it the Xbox Infinite, then. :D

(sort of makes sense after 360...)

[Roger H. Veteran]

Well i would hope they aren't planning on running Windows Vista, 6.0 core in 2015! Push out with the latest and build from that. Windows 9's core should be done by time Xbox next comes out anyways.

[TheLegendOfMart]

Remember that they had tablets running Windows 8 with Office, etc. running on an ARM processor at Build.

Thats because Windows 8 has had an ARM version being developed from day one alongside the regular x86 build.

Theres no way they could write an emulator for Xbox 360 games and they would have to go back and port each game on its own to ARM.

Xbox 'loop' wont have an ARM cpu they arent powerful enough.

[threetonesun]

Well i would hope they aren't planning on running Windows Vista, 6.0 core in 2015! Push out with the latest and build from that. Windows 9's core should be done by time Xbox next comes out anyways.

I would hope the next Xbox comes out before 2015 :s

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Also... Windows9? I know that Win9 is already more likely than not to be beyond the "Ooooh what next" stage, but this seems a bit too big of a deal to be known at such a point!?

[Zain Adeel]

that would actually be awesome.

Imagining.. this move maybe microsoft wants companies to prep software for ARM devices till win9 hits market.

That would be amazing. I planned not to buy a win8 tablet just because if i spend asmuch as an Ipad ill get ARM based tablet and wont be able to run big softwares due to them not being based on ARM structure. But this move will make bring the big change. (now i dont know how their performance compares to x86 ones) any detailed benchies out there guys?

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

i really really hate console speculation. lets just wait for some official news, hopefully next year.

[Charisma Veteran]

i really really hate console speculation. lets just wait for some official news, hopefully next year.

And even OS speculation. Win8 is not even close to done and we're already talking about something Win9 may or may not be a part of? Hey, let's go ahead and start talking about Windows 15. I hear it needs a dodecatuple processor, and can get up and make coffee and breakfast for you.

[Roger H. Veteran]

I would hope the next Xbox comes out before 2015 :s

Well the rumor is 2013 which would be like what, 8yrs from the 360?? I was saying that in 2015 the next Xbox should be out and I wouldn't want to be using a or 7 core then.

[Ayepecks]

Remember that they had tablets running Windows 8 with Office, etc. running on an ARM processor at Build.

They run the operating system because the operating system has been changed to run it. When they demoed Office they even said they had to program specifically for ARM. You would have to reprogram all the games to run on ARM, or you'd have to do one hell of an emulation job. And given that the fastest ARM processors at the moment don't even sniff at what the 360's old hardware is capable of, I highly doubt that's a feasible route.

So I'm still calling BS for now. And another thing: if it runs a modified version of Windows 9 (instead of just being based on whatever the latest version Windows NT is at the time of release), then that would imply that it'd basically be a PC. So, tell me: where does Xbox Live fit into all this? Microsoft tried the pay-path for online multiplayer on PC. Didn't go too well. But if they take it out of the consoles, Microsoft removes what is one of the (if not the) biggest sources of revenue from the entertainment division. I'm sure they could split the two off in some way, but if they're going the route of having a modified Windows 9 on the next Xbox, I don't see why you wouldn't want cohesion.

That blog's been wrong just as often as it's been right. And when it's right it's generally obvious predictions. I can somewhat buy Windows 9, but I don't even remotely buy the ARM part. That seems as far-fetched as any rumor I've ever heard in the gaming industry.

[BajiRav]

I highly doubt the ARM part of this rumor. It would be a real PITA for them to emulate 360 PPC on ARM. The Windows 9 part I find more believable but it will be mostly limited to using a locked down NT variant from Win9 at the most.

I guess the easiest path for them is to improve the current processor and/or just ship a dual or quad processors in next 360 with similar improvements in memory(2GB? 4GB? and graphics). Problem Solved, You are welcome MS. :innocent:

Real question for me is will they use a standard BD for games(most likely not) and will 4K be the highest supported resolution?

[oceanmotion]

I suppose they've had a long time to think about it so who knows what the smart folk have come up with. I don't know if they can go the same route as last time because these machines run too hot and are too noisy for a media device under the TV. The slim iterations were an improvement but not quite good enough.

As for timing, I can imagine a new console being launched for Christmas 2012 depending how quickly the games dry up in the first half of 2012. If there isn't much going then perhaps it's on but first half 2013 reveal and launch later in 2013 seems like the ideal time.

Bioware's new game makes me think it's set for a next gen launch. I just don't see these consoles sticking around until 2013 without a sight of a next gen one. Halo 4 sounds like a nice next gen Xbox launch title but probably not worth giving up that massive user base on the 360. Perhaps a two platform release, the next gen Xbox getting the uber version for those that want next gen right then.

The new dashboard design being common across three platforms makes me believe it wouldn't be hard to imagine that being copied over to a next gen Xbox without much hassle so much of the work being done now translates over to new hardware in no time.

[Teebor]

Given the proposed Launch date I would expect to see download only games and no drive at all to compete with services like onlive.

[Southern Patriot]

Remember that they had tablets running Windows 8 with Office, etc. running on an ARM processor at Build.

I'm fairly certain that those versions of Office were compiled for ARM. Microsoft has stated that ARM based versions of Windows 8 won't be able to run x86 versions of software.

[Rudy]

I highly doubt the ARM part of this rumor. It would be a real PITA for them to emulate 360 PPC on ARM.

I didnt read anything that suggested it would be backwards compatible? (well at least in the original post, I can't go to kotaku at work...)

[threetonesun]

Given the proposed Launch date I would expect to see download only games and no drive at all to compete with services like onlive.

That's a terrible idea.

Same day digital and physical, would be nice, but too many retailers would balk at the idea.

[oceanmotion]

I think the idea of having a cheaper SKU with no disk drive with day and date releases matching retail would be a decent idea next gen. More expensive SKU has the disc drive. Might bork the design so probably not a likely outcome. Flash drives that allow you to download games then copy to you console's hard drive possible but would need a major shake up of retail.

[BajiRav]

I didnt read anything that suggested it would be backwards compatible? (well at least in the original post, I can't go to kotaku at work...)

That was my assumption, it'd be foolish for them to leave such a massive library behind.

[xendrome]

The whole story sounds like someone made it up TBH....

[Crisp]

I wonder if they'll develop the next Xbox to be updated towards the end of its life for cloud gaming.

[George P Global Moderator]

This whole rumor depends on one thing and one thing only, if MS wants to keep any sort of backwards compatibility with the 360, maybe they don't? If they do then switching to ARM is a no, just expect a tweaked/newer PPC CPU + newer (probably DX12) GPU combo and call it a day, not like you need much really.

On the other hand if MS doesn't care about BC and so on then the ARM idea works, remember ARM as a SoC is just the CPU the GPU side could be something else in the end, doesn't, IMO, have to be what they currently use in ARM mobile devices at all. I also remember reading that we'll have quad core ARM SoC's in 2012, so, next xbox being, at best, a 2013 release we could see a custom quad, or more core ARM based CPU linked to another custom DX supported GPU. The only important thing here is the GPU side really as the ARM cpu cores would be doing other things etc. Of course this is just a basic look at things and I'm sure there will probably be other factors.

You know what would be really interesting? And I had this idea a few times, but since the PC side has it's SLi and crossfire bits, why not, in a move to make the new Xbox even more longer lasting than the 360 work out a way to add SLI type support using a custom expansion slot for a future ~5 years or so, upgrade/add-on module of sorts? Price it right and have newer games being able to work with or without it and it'd be pretty interesting.