News - Report says Microsoft Xbox 720 to be revealed in April

[HEXUS]

Will it be another AMD APU design win?

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[zap117]

Time to buy AMD stock!

[howdee]

AMD Fusion processors are most definitely not packaged 'Quad Flat Pack' like that poorly rendered image you're attaching suggests. We've seen them packaged in PGA and BGA, but most certainly not QFP, and most definitely not with teal painted contacts! ROFLMAO

[Kushan]

I'm pertty sure this is only a good thing for PC gamers in general. There's really no excuse not to port a game to the PC if your console hardware is also x86.

[McEwin]

So consoles were supposed to kill off the PC. Now consoles are PCs.... oh the irony.

[shaithis]

High-level emulation....here we come ;P

[kingpotnoodle]

I'm pertty sure this is only a good thing for PC gamers in general. There's really no excuse not to port a game to the PC if your console hardware is also x86.

Compiling code for different CPU architectures is the simpler part - look how well Linux handles compiling the same source tarball on ARM, x86 (and whatever) distro versions with the same "configure/make/make install" sequence. There are all kinds of API and OS issues that make it much, much harder than that for complex software like games. Porting to PC has a whole load more testing overhead because of the wide variety of hardware (which is the reason for 'known' APIs like DirectX that attempt to ensure compatibility). If it was easy then more games would be available on at least Mac since the Intel switch (maybe also Linux as well), the Mac market is sizeable enough these days.

I'd imagine XBox720<>PC will be easier *if* Microsoft's developer tools are well thought out to do it, Sony/Nintendo will need to keep up there or they risk getting left out in the developer-less wilderness beyond the sign that says "LotsOfEffortForSmallUserBase, Population 5..4..3".

[Golden Dragoon]

High-level emulation....here we come ;P

There will be just enough sony secret sauce in it to make it so it isn't an easy task, look at the Xbox emu scene.

[crossy]

I look forward to April, although I'm praying that the 720 is some kind of box packaging, not that "funky" splat shown in the artist's impression - one thing I particularly like about the current 360 packaging is that it's able to stand flat (ideal for putting in a TV cabinet) or 'tall' (great for minimal footprint).

I've got to wonder whether the games houses have been pressing Sony/Microsoft to move to "commodity" hardware, since that'd obviously make porting a bit easier, (I'm guessing that Microsoft are doing things to make it far easier to port between Windows and XBox). Although an APU-based box strikes me as being a little bit underpowered now in which case what is it going to be like in 2-3 years time?

AMD Fusion processors are most definitely not packaged 'Quad Flat Pack' like that poorly rendered image you're attaching suggests. We've seen them packaged in PGA and BGA, but most certainly not QFP, and most definitely not with teal painted contacts! ROFLMAO

You need to get out more... as that's a train-spotter style comment.

[mozzer51]

Time to buy AMD stock!

AMD are supplying graphics for the PS4 too so either console getting on can only be good for their sales!

[kingpotnoodle]

So consoles were supposed to kill off the PC. Now consoles are PCs.... oh the irony.

Also apparently x86 was the tired old slapper of computing and ARM was going to flash its bits and become the cool new thing... working out well then.

[genkifd]

actually looking forward to it - it might the first for me to own both the next xbox and ps4.

All depends..

[=assassin=]

Yay, more good news for AMD! (And possibly PC gamers in general too)

[rickyjb]

I'm pertty sure this is only a good thing for PC gamers in general. There's really no excuse not to port a game to the PC if your console hardware is also x86.

yeah ive been thinking about this since the ps4 and next xbox are suposed to have similar hardware, both more like pc hardware than the ps3 and 360 were . does this mean we could see more console ports , or more importantly better quality ports ?
and not have to wait for the game to be released on pc after console versions .

[JSanders]

Time to buy AMD stock!

AMD APUs to be exact.

[hoggson]

So consoles were supposed to kill off the PC. Now consoles are PCs.... oh the irony.

Too true, the console was supposed to move use from PC to their platform, all it has done is trailed behind the PC now for years. The video released of PS4 gameplay looks like a PC game a fair few years ago. If you want us to pay £300-400 on a console it's about time the specs were boosted... that or charge a realistic price for the performance of the product.