Technically, E3 2019 begins next Tuesday, but most participating companies use the preceding days for their presentations. The most important event of the weekend was undoubtedly Microsoft's keynote, which was full of news, including the confirmation of a new console. Its name is Project Scarlett, and it promises some very attractive features, from ray tracing and backward compatibility to solid-state storage and a maximum of 120 frames per second.
The launch of the original Xbox One wasn't what you'd call 'clean.' Constant online checks, background checks, limits on sharing games... everything seemed to indicate that the console would actually be a digital prison, but Redmond reacted quickly and managed to contain the situation.
Still, the idea that Microsoft needs to do a better job with its Xbox platform never faded. The Xbox One X (Project Scorpio) was a huge step in the right direction, however, company representatives confirmed at the E3 2019 keynote that the time has come to double down. Make room for Project Scarlett.
Project Scarlett: The Future of the Xbox Universe
Technical details about Project Scarlett aren't particularly abundant, but Microsoft shared several irresistible appetizers. First, the official video mentions the use of a custom processor based on AMD's Zen 2 and Navi architectures. In relaxed terms, it's estimated that Project Scarlett will multiply the processing power of the Xbox One X by four, plus the use of GDDR6 memory and its gigantic bandwidth.
The second batch of benefits talks about 120 frames per second, a drastic reduction in loading screens (number and duration), variable refresh rates (think something like FreeSync), 8K support, and ray tracing, a resource that Nvidia already implemented in its RTX cards (with huge framerate losses). Finally, Project Scarlett will say goodbye to conventional hard drives, adopting a solid-state solution not only as storage but also as virtual RAM.
A fundamental aspect of Project Scarlett is backward compatibility. Microsoft announced that thousands of games across four generations of consoles will be available on Project Scarlett. I admit that sounds too good, so I think it's best to wait for additional details. Exclusive games? As could not be otherwise, at the top of the list appears the Master Chief. Halo Infinite, the sixth installment of his epic saga, will be a launch title on Project Scarlett. The rest... late 2020. Patience.
Source: Kotaku
