The lights are on
Could game collections be a thing of the past? If reports about the Xbox 360's successor pan out, you may not need to clear up as much shelf space when next-gen hardware rolls out.
MCV has some interesting things to say about Microsoft's next-generation hardware. Citing an anonymous source, MCV says Microsoft has told its development partners that the console is foregoing an optical disc drive entirely. The source says the system will have support for a removable solid-state storage card instead, which could be another step toward a digitally distributed future.
In addition to that tidbit, MCV is reporting that the system is set for a 2013 launch, which could mean we may see some sort of hardware announcement at this year's E3.
At this time, details about the next Xbox are fluid, to say the least. A few months ago, the system purportedly had a Blu-ray drive. We have heard similar details regarding the next Xbox's lack of a disc drive and a solid-state card in conversations with software developers, but until Microsoft says it's so, we'll have to be patient and remain skeptical.
Email the author Jeff Cork, or follow on Twitter, Google+, Facebook, and Game Informer.
I am actually excited about having my games be on USB or SD. Not so excited about the lack of disc based backward compatibility though :(
E3 is Microsoft chance to pull out a trump card
I don't like that. What about all of my 360 games? Lame.....
Wow, would be interesting to see if this is true (even if I have some trepidation at DLC games being the only option for games). Granted, it seems inevitable, but without a price drop the inherent loss of being able to resell a crappy purchase bothers me.
I'm going to run out of space on my TV cabinet for all these consoles if I have to keep the old ones there so I can play all my games!
Microsoft is awesome.
the only time i'll support a digital only system is if you can sell back a digitally bought game, which i doubt will ever happen. i can understand going to flash drive like memory, but to remove the disks is a really bad idea. i would at least make like the slim ps2 drive, where all you had to do was press a button and a case opens, that way if something goes wrong with the system, at least you wouldnt have to worry about turning it on to remove the game.
Just as I was about to give Microsoft a try this rumor happens. Hope its not true but if it is Sony and Nintendo will continue to get all of my money.
if it is a disc less console, i aint buying..screw whoever came with the idea at ms...oh and how are they planning to sell to those people who still dont have or dont want internet? or still dont have high speed etc? so they gonna aliate them?? bad move
That makes me sad.
I watch rented dvd's on my current consoles and particularly am partial to the new blu ray format, and until they start streaming 3d movies I think no optical drive is deal breaker. that means there is no backwards compatability. I don't think I'll buy a new system until it's conventional, they are trying to hard to change the market I think its a fail.
I like owning a disk. I won't buy it if it doesn't have physical media. End of story.
So... there would be no backards compatibility? That sucks.
Good god. If any of these "reports" are true, the new Xbox is shaping up to be the worst console ever.
Why does everyone freak out about rumors?? We won't know what the dam thing will have until they annouce it. Chill out.
anyone else read "removable solid-state storage card" as "game cartridge" ?