Next gen Xbox chipset is in production, on schedule for a 2013 release! [UPDATE!] Set to be six times more powerful than the 360

The chipset for a next generation Xbox console has been in production since last month, and will go into full production by the end of the year, according to technology news reports.

Tech site Fudzilla states, "Recent speculation that the new main System on a Chip (SoC) for the Next Xbox began production is apparently accurate; the SoC did indeed start production in late December of 2011. Sources tell us that the code name for the chip is Oban, and it is being produced by both IBM and Global Foundries for Microsoft."

The report goes on to claim that, "the power behind the next Xbox will be a PowerPC CPU that is married to an ATI Southern Islands GPU, or modified 7000 series." It adds that the console is unlikely to ship at the end of 2012, with full production gearing in December of this year.

"This first run of these 32nm Oban chips will be destined for developer consoles, so any hope for a holiday console release in 2012 seems unrealistic, according to our sources, but an announcement perhaps before the end of the year might be possible. It would seem Microsoft's strategy of getting it in 2013 is all but assured. We do think that the chips will be in production by the end of the year for consoles destined to be sold in 2013, which seems to agree with what others are saying."

Update from IGN

Xbox 720 to be six times more powerful than 360

The next Xbox will ship to retailers in late October or early November of next year with six times the processing power of the Xbox 360, sources close to the project have told IGN.

Following initial reports from tech blogs Fudzilla and SemiAccurate, our sources have confirmed that mass production of the system's GPU will indeed begin by the end of 2012 but will not, however, be based on AMD's 7000 series Southern Islands GPU. Instead, the processor will be derived from the 6000 series, which was introduced last year. More specifically, it will be akin to the Radeon HD 6670, which offers support for DirectX11, multidisplay output, 3D and 1080p HD output. The chip currently has a market price of upwards of $79.99.

In real terms, the Xbox 720's raw graphics processing power is expected to be six times that of the Xbox 360 and will yield 20-percent greater performance than Nintendo's forthcoming console, the Wii U.

Developers are likely to receive development kits based on the system's final configuration in August. Projected pricing for the console was not provided.

I am still using the old style Arcade that came with a 20gig hd which I now have a 60gig for, I was hoping this might be out sooner so I didn't have to buy the new slim model. Might have to see how long this baby lasts, had it since the Cod4 days and no issues (yet)

So i take it that means the first batch of games will be 'rushed' if the dev's have less than a year with the chip. Might have to wait a bit rather than be an early adopter.

No mate devs will be well into games by now, they get the specs from M$ and build "Virtual" Dev machines using PC's to see what the tech can do, hence why games get better and better because devs initially start off with no hardware than as the console comes out they can begin pushing things

I am with Tom, apparently early versions of the consoles were with the devs a while ago so they can start preparing - I firmly believe BF3's new frostbite engine was developed for PC first and stripped back for console second but also with one eye on the next gen so expect them to be able to get to work quickly.

Tom, what do you reckon to the next 360 running Direct X 11??

best start saving

No doubt about it mate, DX11 will be standard come release time and consoles generally release on par with PC tech at the time

OP Updated, DX11 it is

MAVERiCK FWG wrote: best start saving

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nice one Dave

Duke wrote:

MAVERiCK FWG wrote: best start saving

......for a gold subscription