9th generation over before it began, too?

If rumors are to be believed, it would seem that the next Xbox is going to be an iterative upgrade of a PC-technology based console. We're we to take Phil Spencer at his word, he does not want to make an XBOX 1.5, and the articles out regarding the new Xbox make no mention of backwards compatibility with One or if the prototypes have featured ESRAM on the gpu at all.

This leaves NX, which has miraculously managed to stay shrouded in mystery better than a new iteration of PS4 or the fact that MS is actively alpha testing new console configurations. Don't get me misconstrued when I say this, because I am definitely 100% on board with any machine that makes Nintendo lace up its face stomping boots and put on its 80s pants for some honest to God gaming while Return of the Mack plays in the background!

But... no one is launching a 9th generation console with a 50 million unit head start except Playstation. If the question is of capability or next generation gameplay mechanics, no one has even announced that they are in the VR space with consoles except Sony as well. As a result, if anyone had any plans of disrupting Playstation in the gaming market, we've seen any and all such plans go out the window. They covered all the bases by designing a gaming-first console at the onset of Gen 8 and now it would appear that they have doubled down on that vision while the other two are talking about generation 9.

The questions should be asked, then. Did Sony do it again?? Is it possible that a generation ended before it began twice in a row? Will we be talking about Generation 10 in another three years because of this?

Sony is making a Titanic with the PS4K and PSVR. Its that simple.

@Pedro: it's hard to make the case for that when even Oculus Rift and Vive kits are hard to get a hold of because they sell so well.

Clearly, Insomniac doesn't feel the same way as well.

Unlike the PSVR the two VR options that are currently available are not limited to a specific hardware. Outside of that VR is not going to be mainstream or common place. It would cement itself as being forever present but not a game changer. But then again I could be wrong.

Does Nintendo even deserve to have their next console count as a 9th gen system? If any thing Wii was a fancy GameCube, a gen 6.5 console, WiiU a late 7th gen system, and NX is probably just gonna be a late 8th gen console just the same.

Does anyone honestly care what the NX is at this point? All anyone is talking about is Neo and whatever M$ has planned to respond to it. Nintendo is not even relevant outside of their diehard fanboys anymore.

What is Nintendo?

Ya'll crack me up. Nintendo, even with their troubles with the WiiU, have managed to have some incredibly good games. Ya'll be hatin!

Phil isn't against iterative consoles, he just doesn't want said console to only be a small upgrade. He hates the 1.5 name because it makes it seem like a small upgrade.

@emgesp: They'll have nothing but small upgrades as long as they tether the future of their consoles to using a tiny pocket of ESRAM on the gpu to make up for potato grade laptop memory.

For that matter, the entire concept of a modular console based on an APU is malarky. They are ditching the Bone.

Why do they need to include ESRAM if they are most likely going to migrate to GDDR5?

How are you gonna offer BC if the memory is substantially changed?

You honestly think they will strategically hamper their console future for the sake of 20 million people who already are loyal enough to buy a flaming paper bag full of crap?

The virtualize the memory.

Yeah, like how the Xbone eSRAM virtualized the eDRAM on the 360, right? We all know how flawlessly 360 games run on the Xbone... NOT!

Virtualization and emulation opens up a whole set of compatibility issues. Xbone 1.5, if it exists, will either be a slim version or a slightly overclocked version with the same exact architecture and components as the current Xbone.

Gen 9 starts when Sony says it starts.

Nintendo is irrelevant. They don't dictate anything. No one cares about that joke kiddy company. Nintendos competition is Leap Frog electronics at Toys R Us.

@hamgaber: cloud based console won't happen for a very long time. Broadband still needs to develop around the world.

Do some research next time before you create a thread based on false information.. Firstly to address the bolded line from your quote above:

"You'll actually see us come out with new hardware capability during a generation allowing the same games to run backward and forward compatible because we have a Universal Windows Application running on top of the Universal Windows Platform that allows us to focus more and more on hardware innovation without invalidating the games that run on that platform" - Phil Spencer

http://www.polygon.com/2016/3/1/11121666/xbox-one-hardware-upgrades-phil-spencer-microsoft

So the new Xbox will be fully backwards/forwards compatible with the Xbox One.. Period.. His comments about not wanting a "Xbox One and a half" refer to the amount of power he wants to get out of the next iteration.. He's saying that when they announce/release the new Xbox, if will be a significant upgrade with big numbers and not necessarily a .5 increase in power:

"I’m not a big fan of Xbox One and a half. If we’re going to move forward, I want to move forward in big numbers. .. If we’re going to go forward with anything, .. I want it to be a really substantial change for people – an upgrade" - Phil Spencer

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2016/04/01/i-m-not-a-big-fan-of-xbox-one-and-a-half-says-xbox-boss-phil-spencer.aspx

The primary speculation that can be gained from here is that the next Xbox will utilize a similar strategy as the PS4.5 in terms of continuing to support the original console with backward/forward compatibility but also it can be speculated that the new Xbox One will be potentially more powerful than the PS4.5 since Phil isn't a fan of a ".5" type upgrade.. the only question is "when?".. They will likely let Sony get out the gate first with the PS4.5 and then release the new Xbox sometime afterward with a tangible power advantage over Sony's new console (effectively reversing the current power argument).. Again, this is purely speculation but at least it's based on actual quotes from the head of Xbox rather than the hopes and dreams of a Sony fanboy on System Wars..

Unless we know just what the hell the NX is, it's hard to make a full assessment on anything going forward.

@Antwan3K: guess we will find out soon enough. As for that app stuff, only the most ardent of fanboy hang on MSes promises these days. They've backtracked a LOT on these types of things.

Except for the small fact that the UWP app program is already in full effect and has been showcased even further during Phil Spenser's presentation at the recent Microsoft BUILD conference.. UWP+Win10+DX12 ensures developers can code once and release everywhere.. sounds perfect for rumored plans concerning a new Xbox and the unified Windows Store between consoles and PC.. but I agree, we'll find out soon enough.

They demonstrated hololens as well but that ooesn't mean it even functions with the field of view that they demonstrated. Smoke and mirrors is what they do. In politics, it's what you would call a 'credibility gap.'

Why are you talking about Xbox when you hate MS? Purchase your PSVR and be merry.

Hololens is already in the hands of the general public sir (anyone who has $3000 and developer credentials anyway).. There's no "smoke and mirrors" since people are using the device as we speak..

I mean jeez, take off your tinfoil hat and get some sun dude.. Phil Spenser has done an incredible job at getting Xbox headed back in the right direction.. He at least deserves the benefit of the doubt, especially when the stuff he is saying is either already in developers hands and/or logical and believable next steps for the console ecosystem.. I mean, have you forgotten the crapshow that was the first 3 years of the PS3 lifecycle already?.. Yet you're ready to jump off a bridge of blind faith that everything Sony says and does is going to be the utter and complete truth?.. C'mon man, stop with the blind fanboy stuff.. Both companies have made mistakes so stop with this "you cant trust Microsoft!!1!" crap but in the same sentence you'd claim 100% trust to Sony.. I know this is System Wars and all but damn..

Anyone with said devkit, myself included, will tell you that the FoV isn't anywhere close to what MS demonstrated. I'm not the standard dipshit fanboy in System Wars, I work with people who develop business applications. It's great tech, but they have overpromised in public and then backwheeled behind closed doors. Something they have a real habit of doing.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2945932/microsoft-finally-gets-real-about-hololenss-field-of-view.html

If they're going to push through with the next xbox, I hope it will be worth it.

In this business, anyone with money is relevant.

*points at the Zune*

And as your link proves, people have known about the true field of view for almost a year now (your link is dated June 2015).. Also you seem to forget (or are willingly omitting) that the original demos of the Hololens weren't even remotely the device that's being demoed today.. it was a huge hulking tethered device that was obviously more powerful than the units showcased in even that link you posted and especially what was demo'd at BUILD last month..

So again, no smoke and mirrors.. just a standard dipshit fanboy in System Wars trying to paint a false or misleading picture of a company that he hates because they don't manufacture the particular piece of plastic under his television..

*points at the PSP*

Ladies and gentlemen, a Lemming claiming that Sony has money (I guess?)

Sony has enough money to produce trash and still exist as a company, for now.

I thought the whole original 24 hour check in thing for the Bone was crazy.

PS Move and Kinect were reactions to the Wiimote....... That was literally just a generation ago ffs. Did you guys just start gaming? Not to mention the innovations they made in nearly every generation before that. Oh, and handhelds..... Get real folks.

Thing is that the PS4K and Xbox 1.5 are NOT 9th gen machines, but rather enhanced 8th gen machines.

You know what, I'm glad you said something.

All I know is that E3 is going to be a must watch this year.