While Sony’s PlayStation remains the undisputed console king for the current gaming generation, Microsoft is ready to step up their game with their next-gen Xbox codenamed “Project Scarlett”. Microsoft has announced that Project Scarlett is ready to hit the market in fall of 2020. What’s better is that it will be accompanied by the new Halo Infinite game! Does the new console have what it takes to beat out the PlayStation 5? Below are the Xbox Project Scarlett details we know thus far.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE PROJECT SCARLETT SPECS?
Project Scarlett will boast four times the processing power of Xbox One as promised in Microsoft’s showcase at E3 2019. They also went on to say that it will be 8K compatible, accommodate a maximum frame rate of 120 hertz, and bring down loading time to virtually zero.
Project Scarlett is shaping out to be the most powerful console made to date. The console will incorporate custom made Ryzen Zen2 CPU architecture, Navi GPU architecture, latest AMD chipsets and GDDR6 RAM. This is the most high-performing ensemble of hardware we’ve seen in any console.
PROJECT SCARLETT DETAILS: WILL IT HAVE CLOUD GAMING SUPPORT?
Microsoft acknowledged cloud gaming could alter the course of the ongoing console wars in the near future. Microsoft is determined to make Project Scarlett the most powerful console in terms of both processing power and cloud gaming.
To do so, Microsoft will use their xCloud services to provide cloud gaming facilities to Project Scarlett users. They are also said to be considering merging their Game Pass and xCloud services together. This would allow players to get access to more gaming options. Game Pass is an online store, which allows Xbox users to download games to their devices.
WILL PROJECT SCARLETT BE BACKWARDS COMPATIBLE?
In general, Microsoft has not really been keen on the idea of backwards compatibility. But for now, they will allow Project Scarlett gamers to play their old Xbox One games on the new console.
However, we are not sure whether this strictly refers to games originally made for Xbox One or if it extends to earlier Xbox version games that were compatible with Xbox One.
An Xbox spokesperson told USGamer that they are focusing on “reaching the broadest set of players” but refused to provide further information.
WHAT LAUNCH GAMES WILL PROJECT SCARLETT HAVE?
Microsoft went on a shopping spree to diversify their portfolio of gaming studios ahead of the Project Scarlett release. To date, Halo Infinite remains the only confirmed Project Scarlett Launch game, but we will definitely learn about more titles in the coming days.
Microsoft’s current roster of studios includes the names of Playground Games, Undead Labs, Compulsion Games, Ninja Theory, Relic Entertainment ( the new Age of Empires developers), Double Fine Game, and The Initiative. Future releases from these studios might accompany the next gen Xbox.
PROJECT SCARLETT DETAILS: RELEASE DATE
Project Scarlett will be available during the holiday season in 2020.
HOW MUCH WILL PROJECT SCARLETT COST?
With improved hardware, storage and cloud gaming peripherals, Project Scarlett should set you back more than the $499 you splashed out for your Xbox One. It was rumored that Microsoft intended to design an economy version named “Lockheart”, but no credible sources could be found to back up this claim.
