The rumors surrounding the upcoming next-generation consoles Xbox 720 and PlayStation 4 have been on the web for quite some time, with new information being revealed almost every day. Now, per reports, both the upcoming futuristic consoles are set to feature upgradable parts.
Recently, new information has surfaced that claims that Sony along with Microsoft may be going with the idea of having upgradable parts in their systems, which will allow the consoles to be improved over time, much like PCs are.
"The PC market hasn't grown in popularity like the Xbox and PlayStation, but we've seen how certain games are much better on the PC like Skyrim thanks to mods, and a lot of hardcore gamers prefer PC thanks to the upgradability," a Product Reviews report states. "It is true that a games console needs a lot less power to produce the same result as a PC in terms of physics and graphics, but in terms of innovation and the lifetime of the Xbox 720 it would be something special to deliver an upgradeable design, which would bring more PC gamers into the living room and offer a way to improve console games like never before."
Apparently, a few patents have been leaked that provide more insight into the new report that claims that both the consoles will arrive with upgradable parts.
Per the Product Review report, this new Xbox 720 patent, first filed in the summer of this year, "considers sharing computer resources and could be part of the planned design for an Xbox 720, aka Next Xbox, which details a base architecture like you'd see on PCs."
Moreover, people in favor of the upgradable Xbox 720 "point out that Microsoft would control the parts for an Xbox 720, so there shouldn't be compatibility problems, but this could also lead to higher costs for these parts. The bottom-line is if this option were delivered it would give Microsoft a major advantage over the PS4 in our opinion, which is of course based on Sony not going the upgradeable route as well."
Apart from upgradable parts, the report also discussed "transmedia gaming" and its effect on the future of consoles. Transmedia gaming would enable users to play games and run applications simultaneously "thanks to different components being tasked with each job, so this would happen with a more advanced GPU and CPU combo."
However, if the reports and patents on upgradable parts are to be believed, it could turn out to be a better solution for consumers who could now keep their consoles technologically well ahead with the times.
