Xbox Two video game streaming box tipped as Microsoft’s next console – and it could be cheaper than the Xbox One
THE Xbox Two will be a streaming-only console that ditches physical games altogether – and it could be cheaper than the Xbox One.
Microsoft already confirmed it's working on more than one machine and now we're finding out a bit more about the potential duo.
According to 's Brad Sams, the firm has a flagship device codenamed Xbox Scarlett and a separate "streaming box" built around its video-games-on-demand service, known internally as "Scarlett Cloud".
Little is known about the first device – though chances are it will be a 4K gaming beast with even more firepower than the formidable Xbox One X and both physical and digital games to boot.
But the other Xbox Two is shaping up to be a cheaper gagdet that lacks the super-charged specs of its beefier sibling.
Instead, Microsoft is reportedly targeting a broader audience with the device, courtesy of a lower retail price for the hardware, which it will offset with streaming subscription plans that generate more dosh over time.
As its name implies, all the games on the console will partially run on the cloud (meaning they'll be stored online).
Of course, Microsoft could also charge extra for storage bundles to ensure you have enough space for all your titles.
A portion of the game will also run locally, with Microsoft "splicing" the two processes together to avoid lag.
Latency (data-transfer delays from one end of a network to the other) has long been a proverbial thorn in the side of game-makers.
As the Thurrot report notes, though, "Microsoft thinks it has figured out how to handle the latency sensitive aspects of gaming [and has] become quite confident in their streaming solution."
The same goes for online multiplayer gaming, so when you inevitably fire up GTA 6 (for example), you won't have to worry about lag ruining your fun.
Of course, Microsoft's grand plan is to get its game streaming service on to as many devices as possible, from smart TVs to mobile phones and tablets.
But, as this latest report indicates, it's not giving up on hardware just yet.
At the same time, it's also looking to put its biggest money-spinners like Xbox Live and Xbox Game Pass front and centre.
"The cloud version of Scarlett is further along in the development cycle than the traditional console that will also be released in 2020," writes Sams.
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Back in 2016, the tech tipster also caught wind of a similar game streaming console dubbed "Xbox Hobart" – but that device was reportedly "cancelled" late in its development cycle.
Could the Scarlett Cloud console be the successor to the fabled machine?
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