Tue, Jan 24, 2012 | 17:13 GMT
Rumor: Chip for next Xbox codenamed Oban, in production since December
A report over on tech blog Fuzil states that last year, Microsoft commissioned IBM and Global Foundries to co-design a processor for its next Xbox console, and the hardware is will be included in development kits which are to start shipping out in April.
According to the report, the high-performance PowerPC CPU, codenamed Oban, went into production back in December and is similar to an “ATI Southern Islands GPU, or modified 7000 series.”
The report also states that massmarket production is “a year off”, implying the next Xbox console won’t see a release until 2013 when the current console turns 8 years-old.
Various rumors over the last few months have pegged the next Xbox for release in 2012, with many analysts and industry vets stating 2013 would more likely given Xbox 360′s continues viability.
Thanks: Develop, SemiAccurate.
7 comments
#1
Talkar
24/01/12, 5:44 pm
Seems maybe a bit to early for a 2013 release if the devkits are shipping in April. Only giving the devs 1-1,5 years to come up with games will result in either sequels, or poorly thought of and done new IP’s. I hope it will come out in 2014 at its earliest x)
#2
Razor
24/01/12, 5:46 pm
Major leaks ahoy coming in April then, if this is true.
I expect VG247 to have the first scoop, a la Vita
#3
DSB
24/01/12, 6:01 pm
I don’t think it’s gonna be any later than 2014, so this makes pretty good sense.
#4
The_Red
24/01/12, 6:16 pm
@1 Actually that’s usually the case for most non-first party devs. They get the next/new-gen devkits very late and much closer to the launch. While this doesn’t rule out the 2014 launch possibility, to me this all but confirmation that next gen Xbox will come out during holiday 2013.
Many of the teams that have shown willingness towards working on games for the new Xbox have probably received some general tech info. They can start working on their product based on hardware and spec guidelines from MS to create their games on simulated environments.
#5
poketrainer
24/01/12, 6:36 pm
They’ve actually been teasing the Xbox 720 since last year
#6
fearmonkey
24/01/12, 7:37 pm
“ATI Southern Islands GPU, or modified 7000 series.”
So, the GPU series will be over 2 year’s old when the next xbox is released? 7000 series was released last year.
The 360′s GPU, a R500 modified with the unified shader tech of the R600 series which didn’t get released till 2006 was ahead of it’s time. I thought they would do the same for the 360′s successor.
That could leave Sony to make a chip based on a newer GPU, the upcoming 8 or 9 series.
If the reported GPU specs for Wii-u is correct, a R770 or Radeon HD4800 series, then what a Huge difference in performance that will be.
#7
ManuOtaku
24/01/12, 7:50 pm
#6 Look i know graphics for many gamers are important, for me are important as a good arthistic direction in those graphics, but i can live with wii graphics too and i enjoy them as much as HD gaming, but if one looks at the previous gens, all of them were won by the less capable console graphical wise, ps1, ps2 and now wii, therefore i will not find strange at all, that sony and microsoft go for the less expensive choice, now more than ever due to the struggle of expensive consoles (ps3, vita and 3DS), of course it will be better than this gen, they will aim at better graphics, but keeping in mind an affordable price, without having that many losses for so many years in the long run, therefore i think they will go for a true 1080 p, with an increase in the GPU department and +60 hz, Therefore i dont find this strange or unthinkable at all, really