Xbox 720: Molyneux "knew a lot" about Microsoft's plans, is currently "fascinated" by reveal
Microsoft is gearing up to announce its Xbox 360 successor at an event on May 21, and former creative director at Microsoft Game Studios Peter Molyneux has suggested that while he "knew a lot" about the company's next-gen plans, he's fascinated to see which way the reveal will go.
Speaking with Edge, Molyneux discussed what he'd like to see from Microsoft's new rig, and added, "I’m going to be absolutely fascinated to see what they finally come out with, because I kind of knew a lot when I was at Microsoft about what their plans were, and plans change and aspirations change.
"I’m sure they’ll have put a lot of time and thought and rehearsal into that press briefing, but I’m going to be fascinated to see what the hardware is, and how it will fit into this new world that we’re in now – this new world of hyper-connectivity, of super-portability.
"Or whether they’ll double-down and say ‘you know what? We are the games console, and that’s what we define ourselves as’ and say [they] don’t really care about hyper-connectivity or hyper-portability. It’ll be fascinating which way they jump.”
Molyneux suggested he'd prefer the latter, and added, “This is my personal feeling as a gamer. What I would do is double-down on what this console is for: it’s for playing games. It’s for playing console games for this massive, incredibly loyal audience of gamers out there.
"When they start to mix all this other stuff in there I’m kind of slightly like: ‘look, I don’t want another way of looking at Facebook’. You know, I’ve got all the ways of looking at Facebook. I don’t want another way of looking at Netflix. Just give me what I’ve paid my £299 for, and that is to play amazing, incredible computer games.”
What's your view? Should Microsoft go large and pitch the new Xbox as a hardcore gaming device, or has the audience shifted enough to warrant an entertainment-heavy approach? Let us know below.
Meanwhile, Molyneux has teased he may make an appearance at Microsoft's reveal, but not on stage. His latest project Curiosity may also end in time for the announcement. Are the two linked? Decide for yourself here.
Thanks OXM.