What to Expect From the Next Xbox - Suspected Xbox 720 Specs

It's true that there hasn't been much information filtering down from Microsoft regarding the specifications of the Xbox 720, but that hasn't stopped us from putting together our assessment of what you can expect to see from this new hardware. No matter what the exact details, there is no denying that this console is going to signify a substantial leap forward in gaming technology. We can't wait to see how beautiful and intricately detailed our games will appear when played on a system that resembles something like this...

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) and Graphics

The original Xbox 360 was released with a PowerPC processor from IBM. In 2004 this triple-cored 3.2 GHz beast of a processor was the best that the world had to offer. It was coupled with a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) developed for the console by ATI, which worked to produce the excellent graphics that we have come to know and love. Years have gone by however, and you only need to look at the continual development of processing power for PCs to realize that a change is due. Microsoft themselves have become aware of the changing tides of processing power, with the Xbox 360 Slim consoles featuring a specialist Vejle CPU/GPU all-in-one processor. This does make us wonder if a hybrid chip will play its part in the next generation console.

There's no guarantee that Microsoft will choose to stick with IBM to deliver the all important processing power for their new console, as it seems more and more likely that an all new Fusion chip from AMD could fit the bill. Although there aren't really any games in circulation that fully exploit the graphical engine of the existing Xbox, the Xbox 720 will certainly be the more powerful machine. If this particular console is supposed to last for a similar length of time to the ten year life forecast of the 360, then it's certainly going to need some horsepower that can stand the test of time!

An enhanced CPU will obviously work with its GPU to render stunning visuals, but it's actually the thought of the improvements to artificial intelligence and physics engines that have our hearts racing. Consider a game like Grand Theft Auto; what if every individual character on the streets of the cities in which you are causing your customary mayhem could have individual personalities? What if mob rule was no longer the norm in our games, being replaced with a far more immersive and realistic experience?

Combine that with graphics that resemble the detail seen in the movie Avatar and we believe you're getting close to what the developers are dreaming of.

The Disc Format and Storage Options

One of the most unusual rumors circulating regarding the Xbox 720 is that of a use of the Cloud for storage. The success of the Steam game management tool for our PCs may certainly have prompted a discussion as to whether our Xbox games could not appear on disc at all, but simply be downloaded to our devices as and when we require them. We aren't sure if the world is ready to go without any form of physical media as yet, so it seems likely that an upgrade will bring the Xbox into the high-definition world in style.

Blu-Ray would seem the most obvious option for an upgrade to the traditional DVD tray that we are used to, were it not a technology owned by rival console company, Sony. Other options could include bringing back the old HD-DVD, or perhaps functioning purely from Flash drives.

The Xbox 720 Controls

Can you imagine a console controlled purely by Kinect style motion sensors? We can't. Not yet at any rate. But having said that, the gesture controls that work to make the current Kinect party games so entertaining is certainly here for the long haul, so you should expect some new and improved Kinect technology to be bundled in with the Xbox 720 console itself.

No matter how wonderful motion control becomes though, we just can't imagine taking to the streets in Gears of War 4 or Halo 5 pretending to hold guns and commando rolling across the floors of our living rooms. The classic controller will be around for some years yet.

Windows 8?

One major enhancement that we expect the next generation of consoles to offer is that of more interaction with the real world. With Windows phones already out there, and the obviously successful Windows operating systems for PCs, we wonder if there will be a much closer tie between our gaming console and our other technologies. Could such collaboration lead to the Xbox 720 running on a variation of Windows 8?

Our Disclaimer: The facts, figures and thoughts listed here are only our own speculation; we don't have spies in the Microsoft development camp to tell us anything concrete so don't assume what you have read here is completely accurate. However, the information contained herein is as accurate an assumption as we can make based on the current technologies existing today.

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