Xbox Scarlett: Everything we know about Microsoft's next gaming console
Xbox Scarlett looks to be Microsoft's ambitious gaming console – here's what we know.
While the
Xbox One X takes the crown as the most powerful video game console on the market, Microsoft is looking forward to what comes next. An upcoming Xbox device codenamed "Scarlett" looks to be the next major iteration of the console, with interesting details already beginning to surface.
Following a brief teaser at
E3 2018, here's a consolidated wrap up of everything we know so far.
Xbox Scarlett hardware will 'set the benchmark'
Back in 2017, we reported on an
unannounced Xbox product in development, bearing the codename "Scarlett." While we'd heard mention of hardware in the works from various sources, we knew little about what the project entailed. Fast forward to E3 2018, Xbox head, Phil Spencer
wrapped up its annual press conference with a teaser for what lies ahead. Reiterating the company's commitment to industry-leading hardware, Spencer confirmed its hardware team is "deep into architecting the next Xbox consoles." Boasting its "commitment to set the benchmark for console gaming," this lays the foundations for the rumored Scarlett project.
Rather than a single console, several reports indicate Xbox Scarlett is a family of devices broken into several tiers. It's unclear what scope of variety we should expect from the Scarlett family, though these will likely be tailored to separate gaming audiences. While a high-end console would draw enthusiasts, a low-cost unit similar to the
canceled "Project Hobart" could pair with its
upcoming game streaming service.
After shifting from PowerPC architecture to x86-based processors, we expect Microsoft to stick with similar hardware for its next console. As seen in past Xbox consoles, we also expect an AMD graphics processing unit (GPU) to be used. The Xbox team is also sourcing an electrical engineer specialized in GDDR6 according to a
career listing, indicating it plans to use this faster, more efficient graphics memory going forward. This signals a substantial GPU upgrade is on the way, with an accompanying central processing unit (CPU) boost assumed too.
Xbox Scarlett features: Forward compatibility, improved graphics, game streaming
Microsoft has previously suggested an end to console generations, instead focusing its resources on Xbox One revisions going forward. The
Xbox One X was an exemplary execution of this concept, delivering a significant mid-generation hardware upgrade while
maintaining compatibility with the existing library. Like the incremental smartphone model, such an approach allows Microsoft to introduce new hardware to a single platform. Leveraging the same universal
Windows 10 kernel, Xbox Scarlett should further build on the foundations of Xbox One. While this console generation first saw countless features missing from the Xbox 360, we expect Xbox Scarlett to maintain harmony with previous games, apps, and features.
If hardware upgrades are on the way, we can also assume enhanced graphical capabilities too. While the Xbox One was marketed as a "true 4K" console, many games still fail to deliver in tandem with a high frame rate. With 4K steadily becoming a standard in gaming, we expect Xbox Scarlett games to hit this resolution at 60 frames per second (FPS) without comprising other graphical features. Although 8K (7,680 pixels x 4,320 pixels) at 60 Hz is achievable under the
revised HDMI 2.1 standard, it'll be some time before it's commonplace.
Other newly-added future-facing features like
120Hz support,
variable refresh rates (VRR), and
auto low latency mode (ALLM)could have a greater presence on Xbox Scarlett too.
As also teased at E3 2018, Microsoft has committed to deliver "console-quality gaming on any device" through a game streaming service. Following the success of its subscription-based
Xbox Game Pass, this will further expand the availability of full-fledged experiences to PCs, tablets, and phones.
Low-latency FTL streaming via
Mixer has shown similar technology in action, though the supporting network infrastructure requires work for live gameplay. Spencer previously
indicated a launch by 2020 and Xbox Scarlett could complement this. So what about that long-promised virtual reality? Ahead of the Xbox One X launch, Microsoft
discussed plans to bring VR to the console. While VR was the hot industry trend at that time, talk of the technology on Xbox has since dwindled. Speaking to
GamesIndustry.biz, chief marketing officer, Mike Nichols stated the team doesn't have "any plans specific to Xbox consoles in virtual reality or mixed reality." At least for now, Xbox VR isn't looking likely.
Xbox Scarlett games and apps
With only a brief mention of new consoles from Microsoft, it's unclear which titles are targeting the system. Many upcoming Xbox One games will likely be playable on the consoles regardless of formal support, as a result of forward compatibility. Among these should be
Halo Infinite,
Gears 5, and upcoming Forza games – all which could get upgrades too. Microsoft added
five new game development studios to its portfolio at E3 2018 – doubling down on its commitment to top-tier first-party games. Among these is "The Initiative," a new studio based in Santa Monica, alongside Playground Games, Undead Labs, Compulsion Games, and Ninja Theory. Projects like
Playground Games' rumored Fable title and other creations of these studios will likely make an arrival on Xbox Scarlett. Third-party developers are also investing in the future, with Bethesda already claiming that
Starfield and
The Elder Scrolls VI are targeting
next-generation systems.
Xbox Scarlett release date and pricing
Microsoft is yet to confirm a launch window for the next Xbox consoles, though multiple reports indicate the team is targeting 2020. This would position the revisions three years after the launch of Xbox One X, and shortly ahead of Sony's
PlayStation 5 scheduled for 2021. If true, there may be talk of Xbox Scarlett at E3 2019. As always, plans can change, so take the rumored roadmap lightly. There's also currently no indication of price, but we could see different price points between different devices under the family.
Your thoughts on Xbox Scarlett
As always, we'll continue to update this article with new information as it becomes available. What are you most looking forward to from Xbox Scarlett? Let us know in the comments.
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