http://kotaku.com/sources-smaller-xbox-one-coming-this-year-more-powerf-1778634446

- Release date suggests that new hardware uses AMD's Polaris architecture

- Potential further Oculus partnership w/ support for new hardware (feeds into AMD's goal of bringing VR to the masses)

- Planned convergence between Xbox One and PC

BUILD A PC

(clap, clap, clap-clap-clap)

BUILD A PC

(clap, clap, clap-clap-clap)

The smaller version makes sense. I keep forgetting that the Xbox One is almost three years old already.

I hope they have some sort of upgrade plan worked out. I don't know if the general console crowd is willing to go through with some sort of bi-yearly upgrade cycle.

Is it going to be able to run the Oculus properly? It would be a pretty big step up in power if so...

Interesting times we are living in....

I'll be buying both of those, thanks.

If they are going back to back with hardware releases, then it looks like they are shifting a bit back to the 360 days of having different levels of hardware. That strategy really did them well.

I wonder if they are gonna scrap cable tv and kinect?

@officer_falcon: If they release in late 2017 it will be a 4 year cycle. They did that with the first Xbox (2001-2005) and it's just one year less than the 'traditional' 5 year cycle.

The 360/PS3 cycle was an aberration caused by a global recession (the 5 year mark would have had Xbox One releasing in 2010 to a market where nobody was buying things)

The Sega Master system launched in 1986 in the U.S. and the Genesis in 1989. The Gameboy Advance hit in 2001 and the Nintendo DS in 2004. 2013 to 2017 would not be breaking new ground in terms of a console cycle.

@bigsocrates: Sure but I doubt the average consumer is analyzing the history of console release cycles. I'd think they would probably only remember the last release lasting a long time.

Full article about this now

http://www.giantbomb.com/xbox-one/3045-145/forums/report-microsoft-to-release-more-powerful-xbox-one-1797153/#0