Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

Will we see the Xbox 720 in 2015?

Molly McHugh
By

xbox-720-concept

We haven’t heard much about the next Xbox console – really, all we’ve got so far is a series of job postings on LinkedIn. But slowly, more and more details are starting to surface.

Recommended Videos

xbox-2015The latest comes from designer Ben Peterson, who works with Microsoft and posted a rather interesting update to his portfolio on Sunday. It’s nothing more than a blocky, unidentifiable object and a very obscure note reading “collaboration with Microsoft’s IEB Design group investigating future user experiences and hardware for 2015.” It’s since been taken down from his site, but we have ZDNet to thank for the screenshot (at right).

Related

So, 2015 it is? It would seem so; the date aligns with Xbox scheduling and projections. We’ve got years to speculate about what we’re going to see, but here are just a few of the features of interest making the rounds in this incredibly early (fetal, even) stage of the Xbox “720.”

Blu-ray

Including Blu-ray capability in its next console would definitely be an interesting step, and one that there’s conflicting opinions about. On one hand, the advanced video format is definitely challenging DVD sales (although online streaming is inarguably the future of home entertainment). On the other hand, there are licensing fees. We’re thinking Microsoft isn’t terribly keen on shoving money at competitor Sony to use its technology. Given the fact that Microsoft’s busy trolling other developers over using its own technology and asking them to pay up, we’re not certain how the company feels being on the other end of patent use.

Revolutionized hardware

Call us shallow, but perhaps the most attention-getting aspect of a new device is its outer beauty, and we’re definitely interested to see what the Xbox 720 is going to look like. Of course, from the fact that some of the job postings are looking for hardware designers, we’re guessing Microsoft doesn’t entirely know yet. Epic Games VP Mark Rein told Develop in October that he could imagine an entirely new format for the console, packing the system into a tablet. “Imagine a future Xbox 360 that is actually a tablet you carry around. It will have more power than 360 does today, with technology like Kinect built right in.” Rein talks about how this would make gaming a portable, on-the-go, constant experience – not one shackled to your living room. Sounds almost crazy as you stare at your very grounded console, right? But – will it be as crazy in four years?

3D

The Nintendo 3DS, too many 3D TVs to count, and a slew of smartphones featuring the technology might be enough to make us believe the Xbox 720 will be 3D capable. According to 3anime, one 720 staff developer wouldn’t give much information about the console, except this gem: “The only thing I’m going to say about everything I heard regarding the next Xbox is that it won’t launch until a certain type of television becomes more widespread, because in addition to built-in Natal tech, a key feature of the next Xbox would be full HD stereoscopic 3D visuals similar to 3D movie theatres.” The quote made the tech blog rounds, and has solidified itself as “hoped for” in the next console. Will 3D TVs become popular enough with consumers for Xbox to include it in the new system? The numbers continue to go up, and according to IDG News Service, 2015 will bring us glasses-free 3D LCD TVs.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Molly McHugh
Molly McHugh
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…
VR headset deals: Meta Quest 2 and VIVE XR
htc vive vs pro headphones

While VR may not be as big as was predicted back in the early 2000s when the original Oculus Go was released, there is still a considerable market these days, and some great VR games like Half-Life: Alyx that you can have fun with. Of course, VR headsets remain expensive, and while options like the Meta Quest don't necessarily require a high-end gaming PC, they can still be a bit pricey for those who just want to put a foot in the hobby. Luckily, there are some good deals you can take advantage of, even on some of the best VR headsets, so be sure to check out all your options below.
Meta Quest 2 -- $199, was $200

Even though the Meta Quest 3 came out quite recently, the Meta Quest 2 is still a pretty powerful contender, especially since it has a wider library and app support than the Quest 3 currently has. Even more so, the Quest 2 is a lot cheaper than the Quest 3, and with the latest permanent discount down to just $200, that's a whole $300 or so difference from the Quest 3. Of course, the Quest 3 does have more advanced AR and slightly better performance with software and Wi-Fi, but that may not be worth the extra cost for some. Either way, be sure to check out the breakdown between Quest 2 and Quest 3 to get a better sense of what you should pick up.

Read more
BlizzCon 2024 is not happening despite Blizzard’s strong 2024 lineup
A still from World of Warcraft The Worldsoul Saga's reveal tralier.

World of Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch maker Blizzard Entertainment confirmed that BlizzCon 2024 will not be happening.

BlizzCon was a convention that Blizzard Entertainment held almost every year between 2005 and 2019 to celebrate its games and make new announcements. The pandemic and hostile workplace allegations against Blizzard meant that no shows were held in 2020 or 2022 (2021 was digital-only), but BlizzCon made its grand return in 2023. We attended it last November and had the opportunity to speak with developers and learn more about Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer's first visit to Blizzard, upcoming plans for franchises like Diablo and Warcraft, and more. Although Blizzard never outright confirmed that it would hold BlizzCon in 2024, the event was expected to continue after its return last year.

Read more
How to unlock fast travel in Another Crab’s Treasure
Kril with a coconut shell

Another Crab's Treasure is a fantastical soulslike set deep under the ocean where danger lurks around every corner. And like other games in the genre, it's often brutally difficult to overcome the various challenges you'll encounter. As such, you may find yourself wanting to backtrack for level grinding, to uncover new secrets, or to buy additional items in the game's main hub. However, you may notice early in the game that you haven't yet unlocked the ability to fast travel between the multitude of Moon Snail Shells (aka "bonfires") you've found. Here's how and when you'll unlock fast travel.
How to unlock fast travel
In the opening hours of the game, you may notice that you can access your skill tree, which will show a skill called Shelleportation. But you may be discouraged to see that you aren't able to apply any points to it yet. That's because the game doesn't open up this feature until you've advanced a few hours into the story.

To unlock fast travel, you'll need to work your way through the first few main areas of the game until you reach a boss called the Polluted Platoon Pathfinder. After beating this baddie, you'll soon find yourself teleporting to the Moon Snail's Domain. Here, you'll learn about the power of Umami, as well as unlock access to your skill tree.

Read more