Xbox head confirms one version of Project Scarlett in development

By Charles Singletary Jr. June 20, 2019

Phil Spencer Xbox next gen console one solo project scarlett development console

E3 2019 served as the stage for Microsoft’s official confirmation and reveal of its next-generation Xbox, Project Scarlett. There were various rumors running rampant including one that there were multiple versions of the next Xbox in development but, in an interview with Business Insider, Xbox lead Phil Spencer confirmed that only one is being created for the time being.

GamesRadar reported on the interview, highlighting a moment where Spencer responded to a question about an old statement that mentioned multiple systems.

“Last year we said consoles, and we’ve shipped a console and we’ve now detailed another console. I think that’s plural,” Spencer said. He also stressed that “we’re focused on Project Scarlett and what we put on stage.”

The physical Project Scarlett console hasn’t been shown yet but it will likely be revealed whenever we learn the official name for it. Right now, we know that it will be powered by a custom AMD processor based on Ryzen 2, a GPU based on AMD’s Navi, and GDDR6 RAM. The final details will be revealed as we get closer to its release and, as is typical with home gaming consoles, the new Xbox will likely get a refreshed model a few years into its lifecycle. We’ve received four different versions of the Xbox One and it wouldn’t be surprising to see a similar amount before the next-gen starts to close out.

While Spencer did confirm there’s only one console being made, Xbox is planning to deliver content to gamers across three platforms. In addition to Project Scarlett, Xbox gaming will be delivered into homes and on the go via the new Xbox Game Pass for PC and the newly announced cloud gaming platform Project Xcloud. Game Pass is a known quantity but Xcloud is going to be the most intriguing new format from Microsoft.

It’s well known that Microsoft wants Xbox to be on as many platforms as possible and, with the company playing nice with both Nintendo and Sony these days, the sky’s the limit on what type of collaborative efforts we’ll see throughout the next generation of video gaming. Google Stadia has ignited a series of changes, creations, and collaborations.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Charles Singletary Jr.

I'm a Birmingham, AL raised author, journalist, and gaming enthusiast currently residing in San Antonio, TX. My work has…

Gaming

The best games on Xbox Game Pass for right now (March 2023)

As the Xbox Game Pass program has grown, so has our list of the best games on Xbox Game Pass. After the launch of the Xbox Series X, Microsoft has doubled down on Game Pass, now offering well over 350 games on the console alone. To help you through option paralysis, we rounded up the top games on Microsoft's subscription platform.

Many titles are available across Xbox and PC, and some of them even have cross-save support. Most of the games are available for streaming on mobile too, as long as you have Game Pass Ultimate. The Game Pass library is also constantly changing, so check out our monthly guide for addition and removal announcements.

Gaming

Microsoft pledges to bring Xbox PC games to Nvidia GeForce Now

geforce-now-og-no-text-1200x630

Microsoft has announced a 10-year partnership with Nvidia aimed at bringing Xbox PC games to its cloud gaming service competitor Nvidia GeForce Now as part of its ongoing efforts to win over companies skeptical of its potebtial Activision Blizzard acquisition.
This means that players can use Nvidia GeForce Now to play the Steam, Epic Games Store, or Windows versions of titles like Halo Infinite, Redfall, and eventually, Call of Duty through the cloud on GeForce Now. Third-party publishers with games on the Windows Store can also now grant streaming rights to Nvidia. This announcement came during a European Commission hearing where Microsoft tried to convince regulators that its impending acquisition should bne allowed.
Microsoft has been under a lot of regulatory scrutiny even since it announced its intent to acquire Activision Blizzard in January 2022. It's trying to win over industry peers with deals like this one with Nvidia. This week, the Communications Workers of America voiced its approval of the deal, and Microsoft has signed a binding agreement to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo platforms as well. Previously, Nvidia had raised concerns about Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition, but the press release announcing this agreement states that the deal "resolves Nvidia's concerns," and that Nvidia now gives "full support for regulatory approval of the acquisition."
Regulatory bodies in the U.S., U.K., and Europe are worried that Microsoft acquiring Activision Blizzard will hurt the game industry and sabotage Microsoft's competitors in both console and cloud gaming. Nvidia GeForce Now is seen as one of the biggest competitors to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate's cloud service offerings, which makes it surprising that it reached an agreement with Nvidia. However, this deal also demonstrates how Microsoft is willing to make concessions so that its acquisition of Activision Blizzard is approved.

Gaming

Valheim finally comes to Xbox next month with full crossplay

Valheim player standing in a field.

Iron Gate Studio and Coffee Stain Publishing confirmed that the Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One versions of Valheim will finally launch on March 14. The early access Xbox Game Preview title will be included as part of the Xbox Game Pass subscription when it releases on consoles, as it is already available via the PC version of the service.

The announcement came as part of IGN's 2023 Fan Fest event. In addition to a release date announcement, we also saw a gameplay trailer showing it running on Xbox Series X, which seemed on par with how the game runs on higher-end PCs. We also learned that Valheim will support full crossplay between PC and Xbox consoles when it finally launches. This release marks the first time Valheim will be available on console since the fantasy survival game rose to popularity in early 2021. For the time being, this also means that Valheim is an Xbox console exclusive.