Microsoft may start releasing optional hardware upgrades for Xbox One rather than rolling out all-new consoles, according to Xbox boss Phil Spencer. Polygon reports that the executive’s presentation at the Xbox Spring Showcase event teased out a surprising new direction for the system.

“We see on other platforms whether it be mobile or PC that you get a continuous innovation that you rarely see on console,” Spencer said. “Consoles lock the hardware and the software platforms together at the beginning of the generation. Then you ride the generation out for seven or so years, while other ecosystems are getting better, faster, stronger.”

Spencer said Microsoft could break out of this cycle by selling optional hardware upgrades, allowing players to keep up with new tech that they previously would need to wait years – or buy a pricey gaming PC – to enjoy. The system would continue to be “backward and forward compatible” with past and future games, thanks in part to Xbox One using the Universal windows Platform for all of its applications.

“We can effectively feel a little bit more like we see on PC, where I can still go back and run my old Doom and Quake games that I used to play years ago but I can still see the best 4K games come out and my library is always with me. Hardware innovation continues while the software innovation is able to take advantage and I don’t have to jump a generation and lose everything that I played on before.”

Spencer didn’t specify how these optional hardware upgrades would work – whether it would be something you drop into your old system, like a good ol’ N64 expansion pack, or an all-new Xbox One that you’d buy off the shelf – but he hopes people see this as a signal of Microsoft’s continued commitment to the system.

Forza Motorsport 6: Apex is an invitation for Windows 10 PC gamers to join millions of Forza players worldwide and experience thrilling racing, addictive gameplay and stunning graphics.

Arriving on the Windows Store this spring and available for free, Forza Motorsport 6: Apex is a powerful demonstration of what the ForzaTech™ engine can do when unleashed by DirectX 12 at resolutions up to 4K. Developed by Turn 10 Studios, Forza Motorsport 6: Apex is the first step in Microsoft’s commitment to creating amazing Forza experiences for Windows 10 PC gamers.

New Showcase Tour, Objective System and Spotlight Series
Designed for players who are new to the Forza franchise, Forza Motorsport 6: Apex delivers a curated experience, featuring authentic wheel-to-wheel action, unique automotive content and constant rewards. The career mode is anchored by a new 12-event “Showcase Tour,” which introduces players to fascinating cars and unique automotive match-ups through a series of beautifully crafted and entertaining videos, narrated by automotive celebrities such as James May and Richard Hammond.

Forza Motorsport 6: Apex features a new objective and scoring system, which challenges the player to grow their skill and compare scores with their friends, and each event is a completely unique experience with unending replay value.

In addition, a new “Spotlight Series” will feature new Showcase-style events that will be updated on a regular basis. Whether you’re barreling around rainy Brands Hatch in your all-wheel-drive street weapon of choice or chasing down The Stig from “Top Gear” in cockpit view, there are always new and fun challenges to explore.

Signature Forza Features Drivatar™ and Forzavista™ Arrive on Windows 10 PCs
Forza Motorsport 6: Apex features trademark Forza innovations such as Drivatar™ opponents and a hand-picked selection of 63 fully functioning Forzavista™-enabled cars, each with working cockpits and full damage.

With bleeding edge race cars like the 2014 Audi #2 Audi Team Joest R18 e-tron quattro, modern masterpieces like the 2017 Ford GT, and classic American Muscle like the 1973 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SD-455, the cars in Forza Motorsport 6: Apex represent the far-reaching diversity that is part of Forza’s DNA.

Players can race those cars on 20 exciting track configurations across six locations – Brands Hatch, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Rio de Janeiro, Sebring International Raceway, Top Gear and Yas Marina – including night and wet-weather variants.

Available for free in the Windows Store this spring, Forza Motorsport 6: Apex paves the way for future Forza experiences on Windows 10.

Hey, remember that time a little while ago when it was asked if the Division would have microtransactions and we discovered that Ubisoft’s definition of the word DLC was probably a little different to our own? Well, during the beta of The Division some players uncovered something that could hint at The Division actually having microtransactions – or at least an in-game currency.

One of the main things that people said about The Division’s beta was that it was ridiculously easy to game the system and cheat, so no wonder this was uncovered. In case you weren’t aware, The Division already had another currency available called Dark Zone Funds which gave you a reason to venture into the PvP part of the game. So this other currency, called Phoenix Credits could be something that Ubisoft are aiming to charge real money for. However, a community manager for Ubisoft denies this is the case.

When asked, Natchai Stappers said that the company would “communicate on it later, but don’t worry,” following that up with: “There will be no microtransactions, and definitely no P2W.” However, as we determined before Ubisoft’s definition of DLC was being applied to some planned content that seemed more like the sort of thing most would call a microtransaction – cosmetic accessories.

However, to see what the true purpose of a Phoenix Credit is, we’ve no choice but to wait for the full game’s release.

With the announcement of the first Fallout 4 DLCs we can expect to see in the near future last week, a number of people were asking – “where’s the game’s Creation Kit”? Not that modders haven’t already been doing a great job without it.

Now details of the modkit have emerged, and it’s due to be releasing in between the first two DLCs – Automatron and Wasteland Workshop. At least, if you own the PC version it will. not that the console players won’t be getting it, it’ll just take a month more for Xbox owners and two more months for owners of the PS4 version. Owch.

In an interview with Game Informer Todd Howard said: “Our goal [for full mod support] is between the first two DLCs. It’ll go up at that time on PC. In April. All of that stuff will go up on PC. People are beta testing it.”

The new Survival mode was also talked about. From what we know, it’ll only save when you sleep; will not contain fast travel; will have diseases and the combat is probably going to be overhauled as well to remove a little of the bullet-sponginess on both side of the equation. Needless to say, it’ll probably go through a beta stage so that Bethesda can be sure they’ve gotten the balance right.

Are you excited for the advent of even greater Fallout 4 mods? Let us know in the comments!

It seems that nowadays any big game beta seems to have some problems, and they usually include a problem with the framerates. It seems that the latest Hitman game’s no exception to this rule.

The people at Gaming Bolt have been putting the beta of the assassin game through its paces in the last few days before they lose access to it (the access being a bonus of pre-ordering the game) and the results are… well, not great.

Running the game on a Radeon R9290 4GB GPU along with an AMD FX 8350, they’re reporting that during the opening training mission the game is failing to maintain even a steady 30FPS. Other tests done seem to confirm this, with an hour spent on the training mission ship using two 980 TIs it’s hard to get a steady 60FPS. Admittedly the beta isn’t configured for dual GPU set-ups, but even on a single 980 the framerates drop. And this is on quite good hardware too, so you can imagine the issues more affordable hardware could have with it.

Unsurprisingly, it’s the NPC crowds that do it. Less populated areas run faster as there’s a lot less on screen to process and keep track of. Since this is a game about murdering targets that are generally located in very populated areas though, you have to hope that IO Interactive is planning some further tightening of the game’s optimization before the full release.

Mind you, there’s a good track record because Hitman:Absolution was apparently well received on its PC port. So there is hope that IO will have it sorted by launch. We’ll just have to wait and see.