Possible Leaked specs of Xbox 720 “Durango”

During last week the gaming scene has been buzzing more than usual at this time by an unusual event, in a forum for developers an identified user was offering the sale of a supposed development kit from the new Microsoft console, Xbox 720, along with a list of technical specifications which could be very well be real – with slight differences – the home console that is expected between 2013 and 2014. The kit was offered for a total of $10,000, an exorbitant amount but usual for this type of hardware, especially models not yet on sale or with very limited access such as the development of devices for next generation consoles. The legitimacy of the device is highly questionable and in some ways there are clues that would lead most to think that it is only a “scam” as the fact that its case is very similar to that of a conventional computer tower, but there are details consistent with most previous leaks and rumors, pointing to the authenticity of the system.

The machine described by “DaE“, username of the seller, includes an x86 processor manufactured by Intel – although in his Twitter stream its corrected and that it really says “is an AMD” – and “more than 8GB of RAM” with an NVIDIA GPU, which in reality is very different than expected so far by the many leaks in this respect, specifying a system with AMD and an accelerated graphics card to match. To make matters worse, on the rare and unusual photographs published there is a setting that screams “fraud” on all four sides, with a Matrix style background and a very simple menu that one would not expect on a device like this. However, according to the “multiple developers” consulted by the people of Digital Foundry in Eurogamer, the kit may well be true.

The processor of the alleged developer console published by DAE has 8 cores, confirming in part previous rumors, and belongs to a batch of “alpha” units that were distributed during the month of February to select partners of Microsoft. Surprisingly, all sources – that prepare first-class games for the next console from the Redmond company – to which Digital Foundry attended confirmed that the type of configuration, ignoring the manufacturer (Intel, NVIDIA) coincides with a real development kit .

There are still many things to change in a development kit to become a commercial machine. Of course, that PC like look will never get to the shops, because they first pass through the hands of Xbox design team to achieve the final appearance characteristic of a home console. Moreover, development kits usually include at least double the RAM of the systems on store shelves, and usually a more powerful processor and GPU for convenience for developers, but according to this character whose twitter inspires anything but confidence, Microsoft plans to integrate an 8-core processor in its final console, so that either Intel is preparing an exclusive chip for the system – and that regardless of server units of no more than 6 processors cores – or as subsequently rectified, in reality an AMD CPU will be integrated.

At Digital Foundry they seem quite convinced, and have proved numerous times to have very reliable contacts within the industry, so the story could end up being fairly accurate despite the inconsistencies, which are few. Personally, one of his tweets left a bad feeling, so will leave this for now as “Fake” in case I need it. What do you think? Fact or fiction?