A blogger who tends to be in the know about Microsoft’s plans has lifted the lid on more Xbox rumours, writes GEOFFREY TIM.
Speaking in his ‚”What the Tech‚” videocast, Paul Thurrot, famed blogger and author behind the Windows Supersite, has revealed what he knows about Microsoft’s next generation Xbox and what he has to say probably won’t be too well received by gamers.
You can watch the video-cast here, or read a full transcription courtesy of All Games Beta. Here’s the stuff that I found interesting.
According to Thurrot, the next Xbox is going to be pretty pricy – coming in at $500. Apparently Microsoft will be extending its successful cell-phone like subscription model, which will bring the console down to a more palatable $300. He also re-iterates that nasty always-online rumour.
‚”Durango is going to be expensive, you know $500, $300 for the subscription model. But the thing that interest me, going back and looking at some of the stuff I got a long time ago, it actually says ‚’must be internet-connected to use’ in the notes. And that’s all I have, but it does say that.‚”
He says the console will be released in November this year, and will be shown off extensively at E3 this year and that, aside from the always on requirement, everything is rosy and you should probably stop moaning, even though it runs Windows 8.
‚”I think there’s a lot information to come, but I look at all this stuff that I’ve seen about Durango and I think, it’s all positive. I don’t really see any bad news here at all.”
The biggest take away from Thurrot is one of Microsoft’s general attitude to the Xbox and its market. He’s convinced that Microsoft is really pushing for the next Xbox to be a general entertainment device not quite as gamer focused as many of you would hope.
‚””The problem Microsoft has, has nothing to do with Sony or Nintendo anymore, it’s Roku and AppleTV. The market for hard-core video games like the next Gears of War, or the next Halo is fairly finite. It’s a decent market, it’s not the market for tablets nor is it the market for smartphones.‚””
Of course this, and just about everything you hear about the next generation Xbox should be taken with great big bags full of salt. According to Thurrot though, we can stop with the rumours and speculation of next month because the announcement has been delayed.
* Article courtesy of Lazygamer.net. Follow Geoffrey Tim on Twitter on @WobblyOnion
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