Last week's Sony PS4 announcement has some people swooning like a woman at a Beatle's concert and other are simply "meh" on the new overly social aspect Sony is pushing. Either way, Sony has done their best to beat their competitor to the press and eventually to the market if their nebulous "holiday" release ends up being true. This is huge for Sony because it is popular opinion that the US release after the Xbox 360 and an initially high price point allowed Microsoft to amass the market share they currently enjoy.
After seeing what Sony has planned I fear for them because you can bet Microsoft will be ready to counter any momentum Sony has accumulated and then some. Here is my prediction list for the next Xbox console launch:
- Halo 5 a Launch Title: 343 has been very vocal in admitting that they would have liked to do much more with Halo 4 both technically and story wise. We also know that Halo 4 was the beginning of a trilogy. It isn't hard to put two and two together and see why this has a high likelihood of happening. This would also DEMOLISH the Sony FPS launch title of Killzone.
- Forza 5 also a Launch Title: Forza Horizon was a welcome departure from the intense tuning and marathon racing of Forza 4 but it was merely a diversion while Turn 10 was hard at work on the next entry into their insanely popular racing simulation. Even if this is a "launch window" title it will still beat any Gran Turismo PS4 game to the market by 3 years and will destroy Driveclub.
- Embracing the PC Gamers: It is time in the history of gaming for this rift to be closed between console and PC gamers and who better than Microsoft to make this happen. Imagine full standard USB support for legacy mice and keyboards. Yeah, yeah, I know it could give some users an advantage in FPS' but it is time for this gap to close. This would also allow for the option to use a full keyboard when necessary or simply a mouse to navigate the Windows 8-like interface. This brings me to my next prediction...
- Microsoft Invasion: There is nothing Microsoft would like more than to fully occupy your home. Chances are they already are involved in your home computing. They would LOVE to be your tablet and phone choice as well. The next Xbox will be the final piece to get the ball rolling on Windows 8 and Windows RT adoption for the masses. With plenty of interesting and useful "second screen" opportunities through major titles such as Halo 5 and the next Forza. This will absolutely sell Microsoft-based tablets especially if they simultaneously announce an affordable 7" (possibly Xbox branded) tablet.
- Backwards Compatibility: One of the rumored primary reasons the PS3 games are not compatible with the PS4 is due to the fact that Sony used the Cell processor on the PS3 while the PS4 is a more standard PC-like architecture. These two architectures are not compatible with each other so the PS3 games would have to either be emulated or essentially a mini PS3 would have to be housed inside the PS4 case. According to most programmers, the Xbox 360 has always been easy to develop for in a PC-like environment and this will continue in the next Xbox thus allowing for backwards compatibility for Xbox 360 games. This backwards compatibility will be for controllers as well because Microsoft will not dramatically change the new Xbox controllers and add any Kinect sensors or silly touch pads (that is what the tablet is for).
- New Kinect: This has almost been confirmed already but a new, ultra sensitive Kinect will launch with the new Xbox and allow for extremely accurate motion gaming. Let's hope they do not go overboard and require all big name games to integrate Kinect controls. Oh, and Dance Central 4 is almost a lock for launch to go with this.
- Xbox Live Marketplace Purchases Still Good: In a direct slap in the face to Sony, Microsoft will allow the new Xbox to use all previously purchased content on the new console.
- League of Legends: Yes, you read that right. Arguably the most played game in the world right now would look right at home with mouse/keyboard support on the new Xbox. This would also be a direct response to the lackluster Diablo 3 being released on PS3/PS4. Free to play as well, thus giving all new Xbox owners something to play immediately after turning on their console even if they aren't too fond of the launch titles. New characters and skins will generate plenty of revenue for Riot and will be found in a store on Xbox Live Marketplace.
- Early Release and Fair Price: Microsoft will jump the gun and beat Sony to the market, again. Look for a late October/early November release with Sony getting their console out in late November. As far as price, it has been quoted by one Sony rep that they "hope" to get the price of the PS4 under $599. Microsoft will have at least 3 SKUs available at launch. Premium console will be $499 with the new Kinect and two controllers, standard SKU will be $349 sans Kinect and one controller, and a $299 model will require a 2-year agreement for Xbox Live service at $15 per month and will be the same bundle as the $499 albeit two hundred dollars cheaper.
- Name Letdown: Look for the next Xbox console to be named simply "Xbox". I know this is disappointing but did you all really think they would call it Xbox 720? It just makes sense, the Xbox brand has become pretty large and there are Xbox live tiles on Windows Phone, Windows 8 and Windows RT/Pro tablets. Xbox has become ubiquitous with gaming and Microsoft really wants to drive that home, literally.
Whew, I am spent. It felt good to get that all out. Let's see what happens at E3 or if a rumored possible April announcement is made prior to E3. All I can say is that Sony better have a few more tricks up their sleeve for E3 or else they will be in danger of losing this fight before it even begins.
Crouse
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