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Microsoft had fewer units at launch because they were waiting for AMD specific technology

FMX

Member
https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/24...spencer-sony-ps5-hardware-decisions-interview



Both the Xbox Series X and Series S are difficult to find and purchase right now, and that’s a situation that’s likely to last for months yet. “We started manufacturing late summer,” reveals Spencer. “We were a little bit later than the competition, because we were waiting for some specific AMD technology in our chip. We were a little bit behind where they were, where Sony was, in terms of building units. That decision to hold for a full implementation of AMD’s RDNA 2 technologies will likely mean Sony has more units to ship out this holiday season. Microsoft hasn’t revealed what the benefits of having full RDNA 2 support will bring to Xbox Series X over the PS5, or why the company was willing to hold and impact its shipping plans. It’s a decision that could play out in what’s supported in games in the months and years ahead.”

I guess this ends all of the talk. So what we were hearing about the dev kits were true. It's kind of funny that the hardware wasn't finalized until 4-5 months ago.
 

mckmas8808

Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/24...spencer-sony-ps5-hardware-decisions-interview





I guess this ends all of the talk. So what we were hearing about the dev kits were true. It's kind of funny that the hardware wasn't finalized until 4-5 months ago.

Can anybody else see how sneaking Phil is in that quote? It's due to MS having "FULL RDNA2" that pushed them back. Their MS is all a shell game to win the console war based on marketing terminology. So now the next push is to win the minds of gamers over with, "we have full RDNA2 and Sony doesn't" rather than the 12 TF vs 10 TF talk from earlier in the year.
 

INC

Member
Coz its a better optimized console atm maybe?

I'm still hold out to see if halo can get some redemption
 

DonJimbo

Member
So secret sauce, eh?

pDCHyHF.jpg
 

Gamerguy84

Member
Was under the impression chips were finalized over a year out?

Heard they were having problems with their VA though.

Speculation.
 

mckmas8808

Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
Coz its a better optimized console atm maybe?

I'm still hold out to see if halo can get some redemption

The question is what games will Halo Infinite be compared to when it is ready to relaunch? Sadly 343's game will be compared to games like Horizon II and GoW 2021. And to a certain degree, it won't be fair because it'll be MS's first major 1st party release game; whereas for Sony it'll be their 6th or 7th major release title. And with each major release, the internal studios learn more and more on how to use the hardware.

It does make sense why we haven't seen any games all year until the july reveal.

And so the next follow-up question is..........why were MS so far behind tech-wise? Why would waiting on "full RDNA2" hold back game development this much?
 

geordiemp

Member
You can have a prototype, and not have final hardware. They sent prototypes to some reviewers even a month before release, that they said was near final hardware.

Well phil said he had an XSX not a dev kit in DECEMBER last year

Question is, was he lying then, or is he lying now ? Which is it ?

Chips wwere finalised 2H 2019 for both systems by the way.
 
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And so the next follow-up question is..........why were MS so far behind tech-wise? Why would waiting on "full RDNA2" hold back game development this much?

Well, id assume that its difficult to finalize Dev tools that you dont have the full tech for yet. Theres a reason there are prototype consoles before the retail ones.
 

SirTerry-T

Member
And yet phil had one in his house in december 2019

Who is lying ? mmmm

Not honest phil the truth sayer ?

Its funny when bullshitters contradict themselves,.
He had a prototype unit didn't he?
Well phil said he had an XSX not a dev kit in DECEMBER last year

Question is, was he lying then, or is he lying now ? Which is it ?

Chips wwere finalised 2H 2019 for both systems by the way.
Why would a prototype XSX be the same as a Dev kit?
A prototype would be a proof of concept of the finished article, right?
Dev kits are designed for a different purpose.
 
Well phil said he had an XSX not a dev kit in DECEMBER last year

Question is, was he lying then, or is he lying now ? Which is it ?

Chips wwere finalised 2H 2019 for both systems by the way.

They were waiting specific tech simply means that they couldnt start the manufacturing process. That doesnt mean AMD cant hook Phil up with a few early prototypes.
 
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Papacheeks

Banned
It's what all us rational people have been talking about. And honestly this is disconcerting that it was this behind and hindered development for projects like Halo. ANd is the reason RT performance isn't something being shown off in any of their first party titles.
 

Kerotan

Member
Can anybody else see how sneaking Phil is in that quote? It's due to MS having "FULL RDNA2" that pushed them back. Their MS is all a shell game to win the console war based on marketing terminology. So now the next push is to win the minds of gamers over with, "we have full RDNA2 and Sony doesn't" rather than the 12 TF vs 10 TF talk from earlier in the year.
The time when they could win gamers over has long passed.

Even crap gamer is a big ps5 fan.
 
You've told a lot. We're waiting when "the tools" mature, if ever.

I dont think its a tools problem, i think its the fact that everything came in really hot. Games were probably built on PCs, waiting on final hardware to then port them and optimize it. If the manufacturing process started in the summer for the final units, then that doesnt give any dev a lot of time to completely port and 100% optimize the console versions of the games. Its just some common sense.

This happens at every launch.
 

kuncol02

Banned
Why would waiting on "full RDNA2" hold back game development this much?
Because waiting for final device forced them to finalize SDK later (You can't test it without device obviously).

To add, the GDK was shipped to devs in October/November 2019 per Phil himself in the Eurogamer XO19 interview. The HW would have been final months before that as you say.
Not really. We don't know if GDK shipped then had final profiles of XSX (if any) or even was able to build for it (Often early devkits are just PCs with expected target specification. For sure OG XBox was). We know from other hand that first GDK version which allowed for certification of games was released in July (I would consider that first full release).
 
In what way? It is coming directly from Phil's mouth. I dont think this is necessarily good or bad, he was just explaining the situation.
This is not how any of it works though. U make a prototype and start iterating it as tech on road map becomes available . U don't wait till last minute and then start. Prototyping doesn't work like that . Design is an iterative process .
 
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Drewpee

Banned
This is not how any of it works though. U make a prototype and start iterating it as tech on road map becomes available . U don't wait till last minute and then start. Prototyping doesn't work like that . Design is an iterative process .

I dont get the controversy here, do we think he is lying about production?
 
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