Microsoft have been pretty insistent that the Xbox One Scorpio is just an upgrade to the existing Xbox One- something that I feel is missed opportunity to get the jump on Sony in the next round of the console wars. However, it looks like Microsoft’s messaging may not jive with what the Scorpio really is.
Speaking on NeoGAF, Thomas Mahler, a developer on the Xbox One and PC exclusive Ori and the Blind Forest, said that the Scorpio is basically a full blown new generation system. He also said that the confusion regarding its architecture ultimately derives from the x86 architecture that the Xbox One and PS4 now use, which allows for quick iteration.
“All consoles are now x86 PCs, and the architecture will remain the same, which is why Sony was able to quickly iterate on the PS4 and release a beefier version of it,” he said. “Scorpio is a next gen machine with the added benefit that all your old games will still be compatible. From this point on, similar to PCs, you’ll not lose your library when you upgrade to a next gen system. I guess since NeoGAF is confused, Microsoft will need to do a little work to make it clear that the Scorpio isn’t just a half assed upgrade (which the PS4 Pro kinda is…), but a full blown next gen machine that’s just backwards compatible to your current library.”
What is your take on this? Is it possible that Mahler is confused? Conversely, could he have revealed something that Microsoft’s official messaging for the product was not ready to reveal yet? Is the Scorpio truly going to be a next generation machine, or will it just be am (admittedly major) upgrade over the existing Xbox One? E3 cannot come soon enough for us to know the answers to these questions once and for all.