Remember a while ago, when Some Guy was selling a Durango development kit on Ebay? Kotaku recently had a pretty long conversation with them and found a few things out.
The feature itself is pretty longwinded so to surmise the points in a more digestible form:
- The Console will run multiple games at once
In a similar way to how a smartphone can have more than one application running at a time, the new Xbox reportedly will work the same fashion, allowing for games to be paused, put into suspended states and then moved on to something else from.
- Games will have to be installed
You won't be able to run a game off the disk. The good part is, though, that this installation takes place automatically and happens as you play the game. No waiting!
- The Kinect has to be plugged in at all times, but is vastly improved
The console won't let you play a game if the camera isn't attached. This would be awful if it weren't a model that might actually stand a chance of being implemented properly and working as intended. It can track six people at a time and can instantly recognise them. What it can see detect has been enhanced too as it's able to see your thumbs, check the opening and closing of your hands and check whether your facial expressions denote what kind of an experience you're having
- It comes with a massive Hard Drive
500 gigs worth of storage!
- New controller, but not really (also won't allow you to use the last model)
Said to be a "natural evolution" of the current Xbox 360's controller with a "new wireless technology."
- Huge Graphical Leap
“like going from playing Halo 2 on an original Xbox to playing Crysis on a powerful PC.”
- Supports Blu-Ray Discs
It's not clear if these are proprietary like the Wii U uses or more in line with industry standard.
- Inbuilt Wi-Fi and Ethernet Port
No more terrible adapter!
- Can output to 3D 1080p.
But the developers need to support this during creation, it doesn't just happen from a console level.
- 7.1 sound, uses either HDMI or S/PDIF connections
Great!
Obviously we can't confirm any of this information as fact until Microsoft have more to say on the matter. The tipster also doesn't suggest anything about the Always Online requirement rumour, nor do they suggest an actual name. Hopefully we'll know more definitively soon!
