14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft’s next-generation console lineup is reportedly codenamed Scarlett, and according to a new report, the series also includes a model that would rely on cloud power to offer uncompromised gaming performance to buyers.
Specifically, a Thurrott writes that Microsoft’s future Xbox lineup will include a more traditional console whose approach will be similar with the one of the current Xbox One, but also a second device that will come in the form of a streaming box powered by a service called Scarlett Cloud.
Technically, the new console would be a mix of hardware to run a series of tasks locally and cloud to be able to run all games with no drop in performance. Processes that will be handled locally include controller input, image processor, and collision detection.
The report reveals that due to the need for more hardware inside the device, it will be a bit more expensive than expected, but still more affordable than a typical console.
Launch possibly happening in 2020
Microsoft may not be betting big on hardware sales with this new product family, but instead concentrate more on services that are offered to buyers, like Xbox Live and Xbox Gamepass. Most likely, Microsoft would embrace a strategy previously used by Nvidia and charge gamers a monthly fee to play games in the cloud.
The cloud-based service integration will be responsible for offering low latency and improve performance by running a game instance simultaneously with another instance launched locally. The cloud service will be in charge of syncing the two instances and thus provide a performance boost by carrying the heavy tasks, while the local hardware would only run tasks that do not require much processing power.
This new product family could see daylight in 2020, though it goes without saying that the simple fact that it’s now in development gives Microsoft the chance to alter its product plans silently without telling anyone about it.