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According to a new report the next Xbox console will not have a disc drive.
MCV claims that this is what Microsoft has told its partners. Instead, the next xbox will work with ”some sort of interchangeable solid-state card storage.” It is unknown if this will be proprietary or more standard format such as SD.
The briefing was made under “the strictest NDA” they have ever encountered, MCV’s source stated.
According to the source a 2013 release date “has been confirmed.”
When asked to comment, Microsoft responded:
“Xbox 360 has found new ways to extend its lifecycle like introducing the world to controller-free experiences with Kinect and re-inventing the console with a new dashboard and new entertainment content partnerships. We are always thinking about what is next for our platform and how to continue to defy the lifecycle convention. Beyond that we do not comment on rumors or speculation.”
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i don’t really see the added benefits of moving to card based media over discs. Why bother changing something when it doesn’t add a major upgrade? This all seems a little odd to me. Surely the most obvious option is to go with a Blu-ray drive, sure it means Microsoft has to finally admit defeat, but when the medicine is good for you, you have to take it. Even with dropping prices, solid state media is more expensive than discs, and the last thing Microsoft would want to do is increase production costs. Plus, the drive for an all purpose home entertainment system will be severly compromised if it rejects a disc drive. You’re basically forcing people to purchase another piece of hardware to play their disc based films, either a Blu-ray player or PlayStation, either of which plays right into Sony’s hands.
The other part of the rumor seems more legitimate. This 2013 release date keeps cropping up, source after source keeps stating it. If this turns out to be true then surely Microsoft must be planning an E3 reveal. thats my view on it.
Would you be happy to lose your disc drives?
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