Microsoft XBOX Scorpio SoC Powered by "Polaris" and "Zen"
http://www.techpowerup.com/223385/microsoft-xbox-s...

If all the tech I'm reading in this console is true, it's easily gonna cost $500-$600 at the cheapest.

Most likely $500. It's there for those who want it - I personally don't. People need to remember that all games on XO, XO S and XO Scorpio are backward and forward compatible and they can choose the console they can afford.

Seeing as the XO-S (500GB is $299/£249, 1TB is $350/£299 and 2TB is $399/£349), I expect the regular xbox one price will drop to $200/$250 dollars when the XO-S is released to clear the stock. Come holiday 2017, you will have the slim retailing at least $50/$100 cheaper with the scorpio at the high end with $499.

It's an ballsy move to release an console that expensive so early after releasing the Xbox One. Perhaps it may work out for them because consumers love upgraded new tech. They're definitely taking an risk. I wish them luck.

So early? The xbone is almost 3 years old now.

5 to 6 years was the average for console generations. The most recent one lasted 7 years.

Yeah, that's still in the middle of the prevcious consoles life cycle. Also, the scorpio is not really a new console, it's an upgrade. The Xbone will not become obsolete (or at least not more than it already is) because of that. Will it? I mean, i don't have to throw my PC out every time a new GPU gets released. I still play on it.

I don't know..in my day we called an upgrade of that magnitude, and at that price an new console. lol

So, MS announce many Scorpio exclusives that i missed or something? Just because a more powerful version of the hardware is out doesn't mean you have to upgrade if you don't want to. You can still play the games on your old box.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2068630...

this has given us contradictory statements regarding backwards and forward comparability. but i assume all games will be forward compatible.

How many hidden GPUs does this one come with? Has that info been released or do we have to wait for "insiders" to let us in on the secrets?

All you need to know about Scorpio https://streamable.com/tha2

That quote will go down in history. I expect to see it referenced for years to come. What an idiot.

Considering how the X1 is performing, the greater risk would be if they did nothing. Doing nothing would only result in further erosion of marketshare and platform brand. But in order to ensure that the Scorpio has a healthy adoption, they will have to hit the right price point and offer a decent trade up offer for existing X1 owners who want to make the jump.

Can almost guarantee you that they won't do a trade up program. The people they're selling that thing to are going to buy it anyways, they know this. Would be throwing away money.

What benefit does the trade up offer them though? nothing seeing as all Xbox One games released so far and to be released until the end of the XO generation will work on XO, XO-S and XO-Scorpio. The interesting question that we should all be asking is: What happens after Scorpio? will the console that come after it also run all XO games, is this the "true end" of generations meaning we get to play our games (from XO onwards) on any future machine?

Almost guarantee? Well I only mentioned it because XB Services GM McCarthy already said that there most certainly WOULD be trade-in programs. He just didn't mention the specifics. Which is understandable with the Scorpio being this far out.

Gamestop does trade ins... not exactly what I thought you were talking about. You aren't going to get a special deal when you walk into a Wal-Mart or Target. Gamestop has always done trade-ins, so ya, i guess.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2071530...

Spencer saying that they wont be improving 1080p gaming on this. This will only be a 4k machine.

I still think 6 teraflops is going to be tight for 4k gaming, so there will be compromise if they are only aiming at that. I was expecting them to also use the machine to improve 1080p gfx.

Though, if you think about it, this thing will still be an upgrade on the XB1 for 1080p gaming because the XB1 is also struggling to run games natively at that res.

I don't think the reason for the upgrade is on how the Xbox One is doing. Last I heard it's outpacing the Xbox 360. (The PS4 is just blowing up at an much faster rate.) I believe the reason for the upgrade this early in the gen cycle is both, 4K resolution entertainment and VR are about to become the norm. They can either be apart of it, or be left behind. I gather that's the same reason Sony is also making an early upgrade. Again, I wish both companies luck on this because I want both to succeed. It's good for the industry. Messaging is an must for Sony and Microsoft BOTH! They have to inform the consumer why they need this, and showcase the advantages. Now having said that Microsoft is in an good position because Phil Spenser actually knows what he's doing when it comes to messaging. He literally turned the company around from their dreadful launch of the Xbox One.

Just sounds like the normal xbox identity crisis. I want to have kinect in every game, be a media tv thing, be always online etc etc.

Of course the new hardware will benefit people who have 1080 TVs, more performance is more performance. Games will naturally run better. Silly statement.

Everyone is going to have to get on message though. You can't have Greenberg saying one thing and Spencer saying another. If you give these people an excuse to start whining and crying about something, they will. *sigh* Yes, even to the extent of faking their confusion or outrage.

Spencer will strike the proper balance though. After all he has to still drive enthusiasm for the Slim for the holidays while tempering (without deflating) the obvious excitement for the Scorpio. The console that Xbox gamers really want.


Platform exclusives shouldn't be a concern. The entire scheme behind a One Purchase for all devices policy would absolutely ensure that all Xbox's are supported. So they can safely say "No Scorpio Exclusives" because they are the ones who are going to be providing those very exclusives that will work across the Xbox-Windows ecosystem.

Now 3rd party devs and publishers were probably never going to be completely handcuffed to any spec. So gamers are going to definitely see a breakaway with 3rd party multiplatformers at some point. It may start small. A VR DLC mission here (SW Battlefront), a 4k revison there. Eventually someone will develop a game from the ground up to take advantage of Scorpio or Neo. Developers have been asking for the extra capability even more so than gamers. And they should, the power matters to them MORE than it does to us.

In fact, if using the Xbox 360 as a guide, it's possible that once developers have kits the Scorpio could become the lead development platform for both PC and Console.

New info from the original Scorpio leaker, from UVGF

In-Depht Xbox Scorpio: a console designed for 4K at 60fps, without compromise

Of X Rays on September 16, 2016 in In-Depht Xbox, X-Rays , Xbox Scorpio Project Scorpio , X-Rays
It 's been a lot' of time since the last chat with "Tom" that, for those not familiar, is my contact who works at AMD and takes care of the business that links the American company to the other companies, as regards contracts and preliminary contacts.

Tom was the first "Deep Throat" to blurt out the existence of a new Xbox console, which would be submitted before or during E3 2016, with a release date scheduled for 2017, which was then verified, talking also an incredible power of 10TFLOPS, as though it is stationary when the 6TFLOPS GPU.

But the months they spend fast and the news materialize quickly, so much so that my contact has decided to spit it out on what could be the Xbox Scorpio final hardware, silencing some gossips trying to dampen the enthusiasm around the "monster" which will arrive in about 13-14 months. And these voices concern CPU and "Video settings", but proceed in order.

X-Rays: "Hello dear, how are you? As they all know began to circulate rumors about what will be Xbox Scorpio and many sites report that the CPU can be once again based on Jaguar technology instead Zen Given his recent releases from AMD that give VEGA and the same Zen ready before 2017-2018 ".
Tom: " Microsoft has been clear . Phil Spencer, Penello and Greenberg were clear.The next Xbox will include the latest technologies from AMD, which will be the heart of Scorpio button. And new technologies mean even those currently under development at Advanced Micro Devices. When I read the Jaguar I do me a good laugh. But not for nothing, but because I can not find the logical link between a GPU and a CPU over 6 TFLOPS of tablet, that it may be customized, it remains a low-level CPU ".

X-Rays: "Chiarissimo like white logo power of Xbox One, Tom. Curiosity: would you have new info for me? CPU speak ... ".
Tom: "What's new striking in this sense there are not, and I repeat to you the commitment of Microsoft (also at the business management offices there is a coming and going crazy ...) and AMD in achieving something extremely powerful in the field console. A Redmond are doing the math and want to repeat the experience with Xbox 360. In other words they want to push so much on the SoC to have however also a chance to compete with a new PlayStation, as it was in the Xbox 360 and PS3 times. No coincidence that we speak of custom SoC that despite does benefit from AMD's technology, it is designed by Redmond engineers, even because they have to match the data that PC does not exist. We do not speak of pieces assembled here and there, but a unified chipset, a bit 'as Xbox One, with cutting-edge technical choices, no bottlenecks, but this time without paying much attention to money. "

X-Rays: "So? Names, frequencies, give me something more concrete ".
Tom: "So I repeat, from the slides I watched that Xbox Scorpio will be based primarily on the duo Zen (CPU) and Vega (GPU). Most likely the CPU for the PC market based on Zen will arrive in conjunction with Scorpio is no coincidence, or in the worst case scenario shortly after, this is the road-map views from me. "

X-Rays "An indiscretion saw that the SoC of Zen would not be ready before 2018, is not this a contradiction?".
Tom: "It's not, Microsoft AMD you are studying the system on chip solutions for some time, the CPU of Xbox Scorpio will be based on Zen technology, customized and underpowered compared to the PC chip, but the choice fell right on Zen and not on Jaguar or Puma ".

X-Rays: "Frequencies?".
Tom: "These data will be discussed after the design phase on paper, Project Scorpio, or Xbox Scorpio, has not anything physical if preliminary tests on some still not final component. I heard that the massive production of the console will be launched in summer 2017, and arrive in users' homes for the period of November-December 2017. The first tests of hardware beta will be made instead in spring 2017, to thoroughly test what then comes the final version of the hardware. "

X-Rays: "Technical Data Tom, something that does not concern only the CPU?".
Tom: "We summarize: SoC Zen and Vega, or at least their derivatives, chip custom designed by Microsoft, which is investing heavily in this hardware regardless of research and development expenses, because eliminated the Kinect (no longer exist, will make room for helmets of virtual reality, but I have not seen anything yet about if internal projects or related to third parties as Oculus Rift ...) you can concentrate solely on the console, no frills as it was for One. E ', however, popped a first problem: AMD wanted to integrate HBM2 of Vega, but the memories are still not ready, and conversely it also affected Scorpio. Standard HBM? Still expensive and not reliable. Eliminated eSRAM, I saw Preliminary slide with configurations using unified system memories you type GDDR5X, evolution of GDDR5 so successful that they got on PS4. I believe, but it is my personal hypothesis, which still costs to maintain "low" Microsoft will opt for this final configuration: SoC custom Zen-Vega and 12 / 16GB GDDR5X to 345 GB / sec. Difficult also introducing two memories as GDDR5 and DDR4 standard, Microsoft does not want to "theoretical" experience as One, wants raw power, simple design although there will offload chip like on One (DSP chips separate Audio, Compression and decompression, and so on) ".

X-Rays: "Very interesting Tom, seem to stand out many things. Although we are still in the planning stage. You have other news? Of 10 TFLOPS for example, it is a feasible target, a pour parler or are there still real hope of seeing a higher number of TFLOPS? ".
Tom: "I told you already in summer, 6TFLOPS are a starting point, not the end, and you still are studying different techniques and balances" on paper. " The SoC is not final, Microsoft is struggling with AMD on how to prepare the number of Compute Units (CU), their frequencies, their configuration (which will still GCN 2.0). From my latest "hits" it seems that the GPU will fit overall 64Cu, of which 54 are activated and 8 kept dormant for a redundancy factor, frequency of 900MHz (I presume, but they are ignorant on the subject ...) for a total of 3584 stream processor and 64 ALU. Depending on the configuration the number of TFLOPS may increase significantly, obviously up: just a UpClock at 950MHz or 985 MHz to reach or exceed 6.5 / 7TFLOPS, or if the active CU will increase from 54 to 58 for example. But these things will be seen in the final design stage and will need to see power consumption and, most importantly, the heat generated. Consumption you want to stay in a delta including the 300-330 watt ".

X-Rays: "You're so confirming the old data of June, which then are not at all bad. To compare Scorpio in PC graphics cards, as a reference point we take? "
Tom: "Based on the current data, so always on paper, I would say that the target is between the 1080 GTX and 1070 GTX NVIDIA as" brute "capacity. But it is early to say. The only thing certain is that Microsoft wants to give hardcore gamers a powerful console, which can stand the pace with future technologies 2017-2019 minimum, and wants to ensure the native 4K at 60 frames per second without sacrificing graphics, thus ensuring video settings and PC are defined as "high." For "ultra I see it very hard, unless you do not reach a compromise such as reducing the number of frames, then setting it at 30fps, or walking down a bit 'resolution."

X-Rays: "Indeed we are talking about a beautiful creature. It seems, through these preliminary data, that Xbox Scorpio could fall within the high-level segment of the PC. What interests me most is the type of memory, and from what you tell me I see Microsoft do not take risks in this area, not this time, and want to focus on something already proven, high-performance, although we are far from the services offered by memories integrated 3D how the HBM and the like. "
Tom: "True that Microsoft is not taking care expenses, but there's a limit, even to propose the console in a year at a competitive price. I do not have the final cost of the product, but I would bet on the 500 Euros, with the console that will initially be sold in small loss. "

X-Rays: "It would not be bad at all!".
Tom: "I would say no."

X-Rays: "I leave you but asking one last thing: at the engine level, Scorpio how it will behave? It will repeat the same situation that we had in the early days with Xbox One? "
Tom: "Microsoft soon learns from mistakes and I can tell you right now that you will not experience anything of what happened with the Xbox One. I try to explain. Scorpio will be a powerful console, equipped with a large Raw Force and developers can decide how to use its resources, without flights of fancy with eSRAM, embedded RAM or other tricks that have forced software companies to familiarize themselves with the hardware to One times.But, anyway, I saw him slide that indicated, as I told you at the beginning, the presence of discharge chips and dedicated chips, similar to those found on One. Developers have already become familiar both with this type of hardware, both with the new development tools that will be identical to those of Scorpio.Needless to say that the basis of the API will be DX12_x, who finally are proving their versatility and efficiency, look also the latest releases on Xbox One to understand that there is a transition from day to night. Sure, we talk about first party in the current situation of Xbox One, but with Scorpio will be different, more immediate and less headaches. Also since the early dev there will be no problems and poor libraries optimizations that marked negatively the launch of One. Scorpio also tends to break down this barrier, or get as close as possible to the development of titles for PC, so as to make porting and scalability of them as simple as possible, with interesting automation adapting the graphics settings in certain situations between a version and the other, including Xbox One ".

X-Rays: "Finally Microsoft is moving well in advance on the side of software ...".
Tom: "I think so, but I can absolutely confirm that Scorpio with the Xbox team wants to mark a turning point, a return in grand style of the brand. Do you remember my words when I could hear Spencer when he was hinting at the new Xbox? Here, that speech is still standing and the presence of Xbox One S a first sign of this change and of the entire brand vision ".

X-Rays: "I remember all right, forget the disastrous launch of One and restore some order, by breaking with the old management and returning to the glories of the past. Tom, as usual, you've been very kind, I wish you good work and ... once you have new info, I am here to listen to you. "
Tom: "Imagine, it's always a pleasure to chat with you. I have a little surprise, but you still have to give me a few days. As soon as I can I will send you the slides of Scorpio, but I do not promise you anything, and do not ask me the timing. Hello".

X-Rays: "I await your new then, thanks again!".