LEAKED: MICROSOFT'S 'FULL CONVERGENCE' CLOUD GAMING PLANS INCLUDE SUB-$99 HANDHELD, 'HYBRID' XBOX & HOLOLENS BY 2028!
Leaked documents emerging from the ongoing FTC vs Microsoft case have provided a tantalizing glimpse into the technological behemoth's gaming future. The revelations notably outline Microsoft's ambitious plan to merge its cloud gaming platform with physical hardware, in an effort to empower what it has christened as "cloud hybrid games".
The documents present a roadmap, showcasing Microsoft's intention to birth a next-gen hybrid gaming platform. This groundbreaking initiative hopes to harness the combination of the client and its xCloud platform in symbiosis. Furthermore, the company is anticipating the gameplay to transpose on a "gadget" speculated to cost under $99.
Designated currently as the "Cohesive Hybrid Compute", this strategy presents a cloud-to-edge architecture. As outlined, the focus is to facilitate universal playability across Silicon, Graphics, and the operating system. In its endeavor to bring this revolutionary gaming experience to life, industry hearsay suggests Microsoft is considering partnering with AMD on the silicon aspect, while also exploring an alliance with Arm.
The documentation proposes an array of benefits, including super resolution, latency compensation, frame rate interpolation, and more. To achieve this, Microsoft's approach may necessitate the implementation of a Neural Processing Unit (NPU), empowering machine learning AI as a co-processor.
As per the roadmap outlined, hardware design is expected to commence by 2024, with the first dev kits anticipated to be available in 2027. If all goes as planned, developers and gamers could be exploring the first hybrid cloud games starting from 2024 to 2026.
Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO, has gone on record stating that they are in the business of building four different types of computing devices including hybrid Xbox, Windows, and HoloLens. This serves as a concrete attestation to these big-picture plans Microsoft has for the future.
Digging deeper into the documents, they herald a fascinating hypothesis that controller technology may assume a pivotal role in Microsoft's bold new gaming strategy. This conjecture suggests the controller being the main conduit for an immersive gaming experience on every device. Talk of potential designs comprises a "Mobile Controller," a "One-hand Controller," a gaming keyboard & mouse, and a dedicated “Cloud Console (Keystone)”. This intriguing initiative had already received funding as early as May 2022.
These bold revelations only bolster the fact that Microsoft is dedicated to shaping a future where innovation and gaming are inextricably linked. A future where the realms of virtual and physical gaming hardware converge to elevate a new paradigm of immersive interactive entertainment. It's an audacious plan, sure to stir anticipation and reshape the gaming industry of tomorrow.