Xbox One powers up for developers as Microsoft strives to stay ahead in the console war
If gamers were wondering lately why certain games were performing better on Microsoft’s Xbox One compared to other consoles, including Playstation 4, they now have their answer. Xbox One developers have been given the opportunity to use more CPU power, according to information disseminated by the hacking group H4LT.
Developers, who previously only has access to two CPU cores from an available eight, have been given 50-80 percent of the seventh core to enable better game play, according to reports by Eurogamers Digital Foundry. The report stated that the latest SDK is almost certainly the reason why Xbox One has seen “performance advantages over their PS4 counterparts in certain scenarios.”
It’s likely that the secret move comes as Xbox One strives for better performance, trying to get further ahead of its biggest rival PS4. However, while game performance might have been improved, CPU power that drives the operating system has been reduced. In terms of game development, it also means that voice commands have been limited while the Kinect 2.0 sensor has been restricted in some functions.
Xbox One has been busy in other areas this month. While various execs working on the console’s Xbox Live team may have departed recently, it seems the Redmond company is trying to strengthen its Kinect team. A recent Microsoft job listing states that the Xbox division is looking for suitable candidates “passionate about the potential for Kinect to continue to revolutionize entertainment” and to help build the future of the Kinect-powered experience. The post goes on to say that not much will be revealed to applicants about the projects they are applying for, and if accepted mutual non-disclosure agreements will have to be signed. They also point out that in achieving the hefty goals of Kinect those chosen to work on the team better be prepared failure on the journey to success. Applicants wanting a “comfortable, standard-role job at Microsoft with no ambiguity or risk” should not bother applying, says the posting.
It should be an exciting year for Xbox, and will be interesting to see how sales pan out over the following months as the console goes once again into battle with Playstation 4.
Photo credit: Steve Mohundro via photopin cc
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