Xbox 720 To Offer Two Versions, Say Analysts [Reports Suggest That The Next Xbox Will Offer Two Different Versions Based On What You Plan To Use It For]

Posted on TFTS by Steve Anderson on Thursday, 24. November 2011 under: Computer/Console Gaming

I know that, just two days ago, you were getting word from our own gaming impresario Eric Abent that a new Xbox in 2012 was just “silly”, thanks to the words of Michael Pachter, but there’s some new word recently emerged that says that, when the next Xbox does emerge, it won’t be coming alone. No, says the current word, there will be two different versions, and the version you want will depend largely on what you plan to use it for.

You know how, right now, there are essentially two different versions of Xbox 360: the four gig version and the 256 gig version? Well, the current word from those ever-popular “insiders” suggests that this pattern will continue with the next version of the Xbox to offer up two different versions.

One version will be a “pared-down” system, that operates as a kind of Kinect portal, or set-top box, providing access to the streaming video market and suchlike, keeping in line with all the earlier reports we’ve heard about Microsoft looking to use Xbox Live a lot more as a full entertainment platform and not just a video game system.

And now, you’re probably wondering: if that’s the “pared-down” system, what’s the other one looking like? Well, the word on that one is that the new one would offer more options, like optical drives, hard drive storage and backward compatibility with Xbox 360 titles, which will no doubt be welcome news for the current Xbox 360 gamer crowd, myself included.

On one level, this makes quite a bit of sense. Microsoft’s been pursuing ways to make the Xbox 360 into a full entertainment hub for some time now, so why not offer up something like this? Of course, it leaves me a bit distressed to think that the system that’s actually geared toward the gamers is being regarded as the non-pared down system, which makes me wonder if the Xbox 720, if that’s indeed what it’s finally released as, will come with a non-pared down price tag too. Still, it is good to hear that the 720 will be backward compatible; I didn’t exactly buy a whole lot of games, even used, but it’s good to know the ones I do have will likely still be playable.

Still, we’re at the very earliest stages of this news, so we’ll have to keep an eye on things as they progress, but the news is looking pretty good indeed for home entertainment buffs out there. But what do you think about all this? Think the idea of two Xbox 720 models, separated by function, is a good idea? Or do you think this may well make Microsoft the new Sony as far as gaming goes? No matter what you think, we want to hear from you, and the comments section below is waiting to take your thoughts down!