Unredacted documents submitted and publicly available for review as part of the Microsoft v. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) trial have just led to what could be the biggest leak in video game history. A flood of files has revealed deep secrets about upcoming Xbox plans for the better part of a decade, giving us an unprecedented glimpse of what’s on the horizon for the gaming giant. This includes information on upcoming hardware refreshes, next-gen consoles and unannounced Bethesda titles, as well as further insight into Microsoft’s acquisition ambitions. It’s a lot to go through, so we’ve rounded up five key revelations you’ll want to know. New Xbox Series X model coming next yearhttps://twitter.com/stephentotilo/status/1704121068519133313The most shocking thing to leak as part of the trial is the new Xbox Series X model. The leaked documents call it “Brooklin — Xbox Series X Refresh,” this is the discless cylindrical version of the Xbox Series X with 2TB of internal storage, a USB-C port, and minor technical improvements to the system’s Fi Wi-Fi, PSU, standby, and more. An upgraded Xbox Series S codenamed Ellewood could also be in the works and released before Brooklyn. If Microsoft continues to follow the plan outlined in this “Roadmap to 2030” document that was created in May 2022, it will issue Brooklin at the end of October 2024 for $500. If Microsoft still plans to release Brooklin next year, it contradicts recent statements from Xbox boss Phil Spencer, who was bearish on the idea of a mid-gen refresh in interviews at Gamescom. It’s possible that Microsoft’s plans have changed since these leaked documents were made, but if not, we now know what to expect in terms of Microsoft’s console refresh. A new Xbox controller is in the workshttps://twitter.com/charlieINTEL/status/1704088621475598345Through the Brooklin leak, a new version of the Xbox Series X controller is also being teased. The Xbox Series X controller is great, but it doesn’t have the unique features of a controller like DualSense or the Joy-Cons, so it makes sense that Microsoft would want to change that. Dubbed “Sebile — The New Xbox Controller,” this controller can seamlessly pair and connect to the cloud. It will also feature tactile feedback, a gyro accelerometer, quieter buttons, modular sticks, a rechargeable and replaceable battery, and the ability to wake up just by being picked up. The same roadmap that lists Brooklin and Ellewood’s release windows says the Sebile controller will launch sometime in late May 2024 for $70. Leak the first details on Microsoft’s next-generation consolehttps://twitter.com/AR12Gaming/status/1704102055206322389 It’s hard to believe that we’re almost three years into this console generation and Microsoft is planning its next big console release, but it’s true. Unfortunately for Microsoft, its current technical ambitions for the platform are included in this leak. The leaked document states that Microsoft’s ultimate goal is to “develop a next-generation hybrid gaming platform capable of leveraging the combined power of the client and the cloud to deliver deeper immersion and entirely new classes of gaming experiences.” In practice, the list of technical improvements shows that we can expect an ARM64 CPU that balances between large and small cores, a GPU co-designed with AMD and an NPU that balances “the desire for flexible, programmable ML silicon against high performance silicon for targeted workloads loads,” as well as support for better ray tracing, global lighting, micropolygon rendering, and ML-based super resolution. Microsoft also mentions a “thin OS” aimed at lower-cost consumer and handheld devices, which will likely play games via the cloud. This next generation console is currently slated to launch in 2028. Several upcoming Bethesda games have been leaked
Enough about the hardware — several upcoming Bethesda games have also been leaked. A 2020 document outlining Bethesda’s game plan through fiscal 2024 includes some games we don’t know about. In addition to games we know of such as MachineGames’ Indiana Jones project, the list also includes several codenamed projects, remasters of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Fallout 3, the sequel GhostWire: Tokyo, Doom Year Zero, and Dishonored 3. Another document is also confirmed that The Elder Scrolls VI won’t launch until at least 2026. Some of these games missed the release windows listed in the documents, so it’s very possible that those dates are no longer accurate and some may not be released at all. Still, it paints a clear picture of what Bethesda was in development just a few years ago, and gives insight into the setup that attracted Microsoft to buy Bethesda. Microsoft considered buying Nintendo and Warner Bros. Interactivehttps://twitter.com/tomwarren/status/1704021807341203802A leaked email from 2020 gives some insight into Spencer’s acquisition ambitions at the time. Namely, it sounds like he would like to buy Nintendo because it would be a “career moment” for him. “I’ve had numerous conversations with the vice president of Nintendo about working more closely, and I feel that if any American company were to have an opportunity with Nintendo, we’re probably in the best position… At some point, taking over Nintendo would be a career moment, and I truly believe that good move for both companies.” Ultimately, Spencer didn’t want a hostile takeover of Nintendo, so he was content to play the “long game” when it came to its purchase. This same email also reveals that Microsoft was interested in buying Warner Bros. Interactive around the same time as Bethesda, although WB’s lack of any ownership of the IP has set it back, Spencer is also as intrigued with buying Valve as Nintendo was. It’s worth noting that this email is from over three years ago, and these acquisition ambitions may have been quelled following changing economic conditions and the arduous and expensive acquisition process of Activision Blizzard.
Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn