Microsoft seems to be readying a new major Xbox One dashboard update, which could roll out as soon as March. According to a new report from The Verge confirms information from ntkrnl, an user at NeoGAF forums, that Microsoft is working on a substantial update for Xbox One to address many problems with the Xbox Live service related to the new console, including party-chat, and the update is set to deliver bug fixes and overall system improvements.
Perhaps the most newsworthy rumor is that it appears that the company is preparing to release a white version of Xbox One in October, something that was exclusive to employees who worked in the console. And just a month after, in November, it appears we’ll be seeing a new limited edition of Xbox One that will include a new internal drive of 1TB (that doubles the current 500GB storage).
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It’s unclear at this time, but the same user at NeoGAF forums also claims that Microsoft is working on an Xbox One without a Blu-ray drive. This will presumably will allow the company to lower the price of Xbox One to $399, focus on downloadable games and content fading out physical discs, and possibly making a slimmer version of the system.
Microsoft has yet to official comment on these plans for Xbox One in 2014, but certainly it’ll be interesting how the company will apply these changes. For example, will Microsoft only offer an Xbox One with 1TB of storage without a Blu-ray? Will gamers be able to buy an external Blu-ray player for the discless console to watch movies later on if they change their mind? Will the 1TB storage be a standard hard-drive or SSD? And other combinations.
NeoGAF (ntkrnl) also revealed additional gaming related information for 2014:
- Forza Horizon: “Fall 2014, probably September. Super sexy weather system and… lots of co-op/social stuff. 1080P and open-world, so you can road trip with your bros.”
- Halo Anniversary 2 will be 1080p, iffy on the 60fps, maybe not.
- Quantum Break is Holiday 2014
- Multiplayer confirmed for HA2, same devs as Halo Anniversary.
- Sunset Overdrive is Fall 2014
- Black Tusk cancelled project was called “Shangheist.” May have involved stealing stuff from the Chinese (though I think that may have been a reference to the name and maybe not the gameplay? Not sure…)
- Fable Legends is Summer 2015
- Halo 2 Anniversary includes beta for Halo 5
- Gears of War will probably need a 2.5 year dev time.
- First Titanfall DLC is 45 days from release, then another one 120 days from release.
- No Crackdown 3 news this year most likely, since it’s a 2016 title.
Finally the rumor has it, Microsoft will start making Xbox One available in April in 13 new countries including: Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland. Follow this release, in October, Xbox One is said to launch in Egypt, China, Poland, South Africa, Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, Slovakia, Portugal, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Israel, India, and Indonesia.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].