Microsoft has been hard at work to plan a second, cheaper alternative next-generation console. According to leaks shared today by The Verge, as found on Twitter, the long-rumored Lockhart version of the Xbox next-gen console seems well into development planning. The documents discovered suggest that certain features may not work when in Lockhart profiling mode. This would imply that the mode allows developers to test aspects of games designed for the next-gen consoles, while limited to the performance available in the cheaper and more limited Lockhart build.
According to The Verge, the performance of the Lockhart profile appears to plan for 7.5GB of RAM, an underclocked CPU, and 4 teraflops of GPU performance. This is a significant reduction from the planned 13.5GB of usable RAM and 12 teraflops of GPU performance advertised for the Xbox Series X. This capacity would however still allow next-gen performance in the 1080p and 1440p range, and is suggested to be ultimately named the Xbox Series S.
The upcoming console war will be critical for Microsoft to make important market share gains. PlayStation has sold more than double the units than Xbox globally in current generation consoles. Despite a debut almost three years later, Nintendo’s Switch also has surpassed Xbox’s total sales, leaving Microsoft with less than a quarter of the console sector, despite completely dominating the sector more than a decade ago with the Xbox 360.
One of the key factors suggested to help turn things towards the winner in this next-generation console war will be price, which will be a challenge given the other important leap needed for gamers will be next-generation graphics and performance, with demands like 4K and Ray Tracing. The components required to deliver this will be costly, however.
This is where Lockhart comes in. If Microsoft can deliver a next-gen experience at a reduced price, they may have an opportunity to regain market share. As Nintendo’s Switch showed, all of the ecosystem loyalty that makes switching between Xbox or Playstation difficult can be overcome with a competitive price and reasonable performance. Even if current gamers stay loyal, cost-conscious parents in a financially devastating year of Coronavirus may opt for the economical version for the next generation of gamers’ first systems.
If Microsoft can ensure that exclusive titles are available along with all mainstream AAA games, and have a price point that can significantly undercut Playstation, many may be willing to consider the device for their next-generation needs.
Source: TheVerge
