• XBOX 720 Hardware Specs Revealed! 6 Times More Powerful

    // Gradly // blog, Consoles, Gadgets, Microsoft, Rumors, Sony, Xbox 360, Xbox One No Responses

    Xbox 720

    Xbox 720

    The chipset for the XBOX 360 successor, XBOX 720, was put into production earlier this year, and will be going into mass production by the end of 2012 according to a technology news report by Fudzilla.

    Recent speculation that the new main System on a Chip (SoC) for the Next Xbox (or Xbox 720, if you like) 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.

    ATI 7 Series

    ATI 7 Series

    The report also goes on to add “the power behind the next Xbox will be a PowerPC CPU that is married to an ATI Southern Islands GPU, or modified 7000 series.”. This overall boost in power will make the 720 almost 6 times more powerful as it’s predecessor.

    The Xbox 720 will probably not be announced at this years E3. But the chances are, it will be in stores by Christmas 2013 onwards. Furthermore developer kits will be distributed later this year, so the public won’t be getting it anytime soon.

    The Wii U is still scheduled for release December 2012. However, will Microsoft attach a Blu Ray player onto the new console even if they have to pay royalties to Sony?

    [via nyleveia]

  • Xbox 360 Has Biggest Sales Week in History with Around 1 Million Units Sold

    // Gradly // blog, Consoles, Microsoft, News, Xbox 360 No Responses

    Xbox 360 Has Biggest Sales Week in History

    Xbox 360 has sold 960,000 units in the U.S. during Black Friday week, Microsoft announced today. That makes it the biggest sales week in the history of Xbox.

    800,000 of those units were sold within a period of 24 hours. Besides, over 750,000 Kinect sensors were sold during the Black Friday week, combination of standalone and bundled.

    “We have seen tremendous excitement from customers for our hot holiday gaming offers,” commented Chris Homeister, senior vice president and general manager of Home Entertainment at Best Buy. “Xbox 360 was among the best-sellers at Best Buy this Black Friday, and is a testament to the continued popularity of the gaming category this holiday.”

    Microsoft added, “Xbox 360 should deliver its eleventh straight month as the number one console in the US.  With a robust holiday portfolio and the new Xbox LIVE dashboard going live on Dec. 6, we expect holiday momentum to continue, driving Xbox 360 to finish the year as the number one console in the U.S.”

    As for the competition, Sony noted strong demand but did not provide a sales figure for PS3, while Nintendo had its best Black Friday for the Wii yet by selling 500,000 units.

    [via industrygamers]