Microsoft’s ‘Project Scarlett’ Xbox console will release in 2020

Next-generation of Xbox, codenamed Project Scarlett, will offer 8K gaming, 120fps, raytracing, and no load time. It'll be available in 2020.

Xbox Project Scarlett (hardware)
Xbox Project Scarlett (hardware)

At its E3 2019 briefing, Microsoft has revealed some exciting details about the next version of Xbox, codename Project Scarlett. According to the company, there’ll be two new consoles to replace the Xbox One X and Xbox One S, and they’re expected to launch in holiday 2020.

Xbox Project Scarlett will be powered by a custom-designed 7 nanometer processor from AMD using the new Zen 2 architecture and Radeon RDNA graphics, and it’ll use super-fast GDDR6 memory. Microsoft claims that the console will be four times more powerful than the current Xbox One X.

The next-generation console will support up to 8K gaming, ray-tracing, variable refresh rate, and up to 120fps gameplay.

Perhaps one of the most interesting changes is the new Solid-State Drive (SSD) that Microsoft is creating to boost performance by approximately 40 times, and as a result, the new console will significantly reduce the load times to almost none. The new SSD is so fast that the console will also be using it as virtual RAM.

“Project Scarlett will deliver a new level of fidelity, precision and accuracy never before seen in console gaming.” Microsoft says.

According to the company, Project Scarlett will also offer backward compatibility support, which means that you can expect all your existing Xbox games to be playable in the next version of the console.

While we’re finally getting some details about the next-generation of Xbox, we’re only getting a small overview as we’re still more than a year away from the release date. We can expect more specific details, such as the full technical hardware specifications, pricing, availability, and more as we get closer to launch date.

About the author

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.