R.I.P Xbox Lockhart 2020-2019 (?)

Article

"Microsoft’s current plan for its next-generation Xbox is to focus on Scarlett and all mentions of Lockhart, which was previously documented in several places, has now been scrubbed clean. The big question is what prompted the change in the strategy?"

"Phil states that the company is focused on one console even though last year he said consoles. He joked that technically Microsoft did launch a new console last year and Scarlett does make two, but anyone who was watching the event and following interviews knows that he was referring to multiple next-gen consoles."

"Developers were having a harder than expected time creating next-generation games that spanned across two systems with various specs. As you might expect, developers were putting a focus on making games that would run well on the lower-end device first and then scaling them up to the higher-speced, Anaconda."

"Keep in mind, it’s easier to scale up than it is to scale down. Because of this, next-gen Xbox games would be at performance and visual disadvantage which is not what Microsoft would like to see as it starts to go head-to-head with the next generation PlayStation.

I’m not the only one hearing this, Digital Foundry, speaking with people at E3, have heard this too."

Good ol' Microsoft, stumbling all over themselves before the launch of a new generation. It's like Deja Vu over there...

Wow...

SAD must of bombed real hard.

If the SAD Edition is what Xbox was using to determine the fate of Lockhart, then they sabotaged themselves. There is no way the SAD Edition was going to succeed.

Meh. I was always going to get the more powerful of their consoles anyway so whatever. ?‍♂️

This reminds me of how they decided to stop talking about VR after officially revealing the X.

Yeah that was strange too. At least this move makes sense and honestly, a higher baseline is better for everyone. Makes you wonder why they spill the beans so quickly, so often because the backpedal isn't a good look for them...

And they seem to stop talking about AR (HoloLens) as well.

Hold on, Scarlett is supposed to be the more powerful console?....

@BassMan said:

Hold on, Scarlett is supposed to be the more powerful console?....

But but MS told me Xbox One X is the most powerful console! Wha what just happened?

@boxrekt: I’m pretty sure that disgusting picture goes against the code of conduct here.

Quick, someone pull up those "Halo Infinite digital foundry" and "Halo Infinite might be held back" threads and quote some of the posters arguing me down about "scaling" being the answer. Dat ass been roasted!

I await the damage control and spin on this one

Still rooting for that No-Gamer-Left-Behind philosophy on your new $500-$600 console? lol

That shit was already proven a fail with the X, glad we got developer confirmation on this now to remove any further doubt.

Oh before I forget

TLHBO!

Damn that linked twitter, which cows account is that?

This console is going to be such a disaster. And mark my words, if this box is weaker than the PS5 you may as well not even buy it, because they'll turn around and try to make a more powerful one immediately. Microsoft doesn't care about your investment, they only care about optics. They may as well start pushing Game Pass and Xcloud, because it's about to be another hard gen.

Talk about AR------>abandon AR.

Talk about VR------>abandon VR.

Talk about a mysterious additional next-gen console------>abandon said console.

And this following the complete dumpster fire that this gen has been from the start for MS, a large reason for which was they wasted their time and resources pushing a whole bunch of features for XB1 onto gamers that didn't want any of it, and then.....abandoned said features. And then abandoned exclusives.

This confirms what we already know. MS is a laughingstock, and they have no idea of what they are doing in the video game business.

Nah buddy, you can find the same thing on cable TV in prime time, that's just nature.

There are 2 links in the OP. "Article" links to the source of the thread while the Digital Foundry link sends you to a related Twitter post

Cows =

That's funny, but SAD for some lems here.

Really? DF are just as credible as anyone. You sure you are not the upset one?

@hrt_rulz01 said:

Cows =

@goldenelementxl: I'd imagine it's due to devs having a hard time working on two versions, and the very poor reception of the SAD.

not complaining about the sources, just found the twitter account amusing

Now time to have some fun poking at the arguments of system warriors before this information was revealed.

Halo Infinite will be held back......

https://www.gamespot.com/forums/system-wars-314159282/halo-infinite-will-be-held-back-33462417/?page=1#js-message-35

DF Halo Infinite E3 2019: A Taste Of Next-Gen Xbox Graphics?

https://www.gamespot.com/forums/system-wars-314159282/df-halo-infinite-e3-2019-a-taste-of-next-gen-xbox--33462110/?page=1

Maybe my words will be easier to digest after this reality check.

Halo Infinite will be held back......

@boxrekt said:

@Pedro said:

So, Halo Infinite looks like current gen but MS is secretly running it on a super high end machine. Next gen is going to jaw dropping but running on consoles. Something in those two ideas don't align.

Why not?

Read the topic of this thread and it's pretty clear. What are you confused about?

You guys are the one's trying to convince yourselves that scaling will solve all the problems for a next gen console when the games are actually developed around the limitations of current gen consoles.

Let me make a simple example for you guys to grasp this.

Take NES's Super Mario Bros for example

Now you run that code on a high end PC and use all the "scaling" you want to try to "upgrade" it, do you think that "scaling" is going to make it look as good as a current gen game?

Yeah, I know that's an extreme example, but it's the same principal.

On the other hand, if you take that SAME high end PC and design a game specifically to take advantage of that hardware it will be light years apart.

It's all very simple.

It only doesn't align if you're in denial about the fault's your entire "scaling" argument for next gen games.

DF Halo Infinite E3 2019: A Taste Of Next-Gen Xbox Graphics?

For people who argued for scaling, forward compatibility and multiple SKUs for next gen consoles you ALL look silly now. Consoles ain't PC.

Hindsight is a motha.

Lems: Gens are dead!

Lems: We only need iterations with more powerful hardware.

Lems: Scaling will solve all development issues for next gen consoles going forward.

Lems: Forward compatibility is Pro consumer, this is what we want from MS!

Lems: MS will have the most powerful hardware, so it will also have the best graphics.

Lems: Multiple SKUs for next gen consoles from MS is a smart move.

And the bunch of PC fanboys that fell in with their argument stance...

We finally know why Halo Infinite looks like this

You're all dead!

Xbox One SAD was never gonna fly off the selves. Sorry but I personally want to see it failed, their is no need for an all digital console when you can do that with Xbox One S/X. SAD edition was a waste of time and money.

@davillain-: A more pressing question Id' ask xbox fans now is, are they STILL gun-ho for a next gen system that their parent company wants to have tethered to last generation hardware?

And if so, does having the most powerful hardware even matter anymore?

The only Lockhart I know of.

@Bikouchu35 said:

The only Lockhart I know of.

From the looks of it, not too far from what we can expect from xbox Scarlet's AAA line-up.

I kid I kid

Nah, it was just a waste of time, since they saved on not buying disc drices.

@Random_Matt: Lol, I'm sure you'd think that. You're one of the said cows.

Thought SW would consider me a hermit, seems to change all the time.

You are a Hermit. You did said you don't wanna deal with consoles again.

We need Physical games to be the saving grace from game streaming.

@goldenelementxl said:

@davillain- said:

We need Physical gamesto be the saving grace from game streaming.

Pipe down and go play Fortnite.

@goldenelementxl: Going all digital gaming is one thing, (I went all digital this gen myself and love it) but we're not ready for game streaming, not by a long shot. Physical isn't going anywhere anytime soon. But yes, even I know physical will die for good in just a few decades from now.

Good. Too many new consoles will create buyer confusion like the Steam Boxes did. Stick with one console at a time.

I agree. And I imagine MS realized the same after how poorly it was received. My guess is the SAD was a test for the Lockhart.

@boxrekt: There’s a lot of things that are “just nature”, doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s appropriate to post it here.

Oh I am. I'm eagerly awaiting tonight's skins!

lol nerd.

Step 1) buy PC

Step 2) buy xbox game pass

Step 3) install steam

Step 4) win

Good, the lockhart was pointless

if you want a less-expensive option for the mainstream gamer then buy the X

if you want a powerful machine for enthusiasts then buy the Anaconda

Goodness me. I didn't know I can cause someone to suffer a meltdown without even making a comment. LOL.

Its funny reading that un-named developers are supposedly having trouble developing for two consoles and for a particular forumer to actually believe such nonsense, when developers make multiplatform games for PC and consoles. That argument is as valid as consoles holding back gaming.

The reality is that having two new consoles would not make sense because the One X would be lower end by default.

@Pedro: He's been out to lunch for a while.

Out as in banned with an another Alt account coming soon to a forum near you?

Almost definitely. Also... Just outright nuts.

LMAO, Microsoft were crazy when they said they'd make 3 SKUs, Scarlett is the only survivor.

@boxrekt: well, Pedro used to say new games would run on XBX and that generations were dead... Guess he was wrong.

It's not the 1st time Microsoft was working with two concurrent game console projects. MS was working on PS4 Pro like specs and Scorpio. MS's PS4 Pro like specs was shelved and focused on Scorpio.

https://wccftech.com/xbox-scarlett-single-console-lockhart-shelved/

For those who haven’t been keeping up with next-gen rumors, inside sources previously reported that Scarlett was the umbrella codename for all of Microsoft’s next-gen Xbox projects, with the company actually working on a pair of machines. One, codenamed Anaconda, was said to be a powerful machine for enthusiasts, while the other, Codenamed Lockhart, was designed to be a less-expensive option for the mainstream gamer. Basically, Anaconda was the Xbox One X and Lockhart was the Xbox One S.

Scarlett was the umbrella codename for all of Microsoft’s next-gen Xbox projects which includes Anaconda and Lockhart