Microsoft is building its own 7-inch gaming tablet. Multiple sources familiar with plans within Redmond have confirmed to The Verge that initial hardware planning for an Xbox Surface is underway. Specifications for an Xbox Surface 7-inch tablet computing device leaked back in June ahead of Microsoft's Surface RT and Surface Pro announcement. We're told that the initial specs were accurate and that the final implementation is being worked on.
The Xbox Surface will likely include a custom ARM processor and high-bandwidth RAM designed specifically for gaming tasks. We're told these specifications could be altered to accommodate an unannounced Intel SoC and that the Xbox Surface is being developed independent of specific hardware architecture. Microsoft's Xbox Surface won't run a full version of Windows, rather this 7-inch tablet will run a custom Windows kernel. Messaging and other tablet functions may be supported, but the focus is on gaming.
Microsoft has developed a secret hardware production process for its Surface tablets that is separated from partners that traditionally manufacturer the company's Xbox console. We're told that the Xbox Surface will likely be manufactured in the same factory, but that any future "Xbox 720" console will be manufactured in mass quantities by companies like Pegatron or Foxconn.
We've learned that part of the Xbox Surface is being developed at Microsoft's offices in Silicon Valley. The software giant recently locked down several Xbox-related buildings, limiting employee access to the company's Interactive Entertainment Business division. The lock down is likely related to Microsoft's increased testing of the tablet, providing a way for other parts of the Xbox team to build games and software for the device. Providing the project doesn't get killed in favor of a full 7-inch Windows tablet, in the same way Microsoft axed Courier, expect to see the Xbox Surface debut ahead of Microsoft's future Xbox console.
We asked Microsoft for a comment on an 7-inch Xbox tablet, a company spokesperson says the firm does not comment on rumors or speculation.
Comments
Your troll-o-meter is seriously broken. It even has the SARCASM tag!
Take a break, get some coffee and then return to the PC, chief. Trust me.
By nico_mach on 11.06.12 10:18am
He gets exclusives and blowjobs! I gotta start writing MS reviews.
By jayfehr on 11.06.12 2:59pm
Flag his stupid ass.
By backporchprophet on 11.06.12 3:48pm
Ohhhhh Yeaaaa
By DBlair on 11.06.12 10:14am
nooo – build an Xbox phone!!! I want a good phone with gaming controls already!!!!
By DanJ01 on 11.06.12 10:53am
That’s too niche of a market. This is Microsoft’s answer to PS Vita and 3DS, which is much more lucrative.
By Gadgeteer21 on 11.06.12 10:54am
probably cut into ipad mini as well
By cornpatch on 11.06.12 10:58am
Sounds like a compromised product.
By Ebony & Ivory on 11.06.12 9:49pm
Aren’t all tablets?
By Picxal on 11.07.12 4:40am
The iPad mini sure is a compromised product, but why would that mean that an Xbox tablet would also be?
By Patrickl69 on 11.07.12 5:32am
The fact that several gaming labels are porting their once popular console games to Android and iOS should be a strong enough case for an Xbox 360 Surface based on an ARM processor. And mobile ports can easily be priced lower since there is no longer a need for publishing, packaging and printing. In fact, I could also see a similar offer to bundled Blue Ray with Mobile movie ports where a gamer could buy a game title, once priced at $50, at the bundled price of $55 or even $60 and get a one-use access code for a mobile port.
By societyofra on 11.07.12 12:52pm
What? How is a 7 inch tablet, more of an answer to the Vita and 3DS than a hand-held device would be?
I don’t think people who like gaming and have smartphones are more of a niche market, than people who like 7" gaming tablets.
By DanJ01 on 11.06.12 10:59am
Because a phone with gaming controls will be a big monster with too much compromise to house the physical controls. Also there’s the nightmare of gatekeepers called carriers.
7" tablets can be made fairly cheap if right compromises are made and Microsoft doesn’t have to worry about carriers.
By Gadgeteer21 on 11.06.12 11:09am
did you see the falied Sony gaming smartphone? even with PLaystation branding it was a major flop. this is gonna be good. i guarantee it
By King Jamaican on 11.06.12 11:24am
Well a Windows RT only tablet 7’’ + Xbox optimized games + MAGNETIC!!!!!!! attached controller on both sides…. my prediction :)
By Hyperik on 11.06.12 11:39am
I agree that side-attached magnetic gaming controls would be epic, especially when paired with a beautiful 7" slate and the hottest Xbox titles.
This is a total WOULD BUY, if they can hit a $249 price point.
I do worry that this creates another rift in the Windows product line, though. This device will be seriously crippled if it can’t run RT apps.
By mattkicksass on 11.06.12 12:21pm
Gaming control peripherals are already available for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices so this would hardly be anything new.
I guess the Xbox Surface could be Microsoft’s answer to the iPad mini but I’m not sure a 7" screen is the ideal place for WinRT/8.
Frankly I don’t see MS getting much traction with a device like this. They’ve had more than 2 years to get Xbox Live to be of any significance on Windows Phone 7 and it did nothing to help grow its marketshare. They should focus on Xbox Live for Windows 8, making it a standout feature from iPhone or Android THEN follow up with a 7" tablet.
Otherwise they’re jumping the gun on this whole thing and should just leave well enough alone.
By mrlangston on 11.06.12 1:11pm
Microsoft is already focusing on Xbox for Windows 8, hell it’s already built in. Plus that Xbox glass thing making its way to tablets is another way to integrate it. By the time this 7" table comes out Xbox in Windows 8 will be more mature. It takes time to build all this up.
By jeremy480 on 11.06.12 2:10pm
But MS already had over 2 years with Windows Phone 7 and did nothing with Xbox Live. What should’ve been a stand-out, must-have feature did absolutely nothing to build the market. And unfortunately MS has precious little time to play the catch up game.
Apple needs more time with their Maps app but in the meantime people are hammering Apple on the issue as they expect the best out of the gate.
Then again, Microsoft keeps the bar pretty low for themselves so expectations are much lower.
By mrlangston on 11.06.12 5:24pm
1. Gaming controls for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices are not standardized, can be expensive to add, and don’t work with all games. It would be a big win for Microsoft to create a gaming pad with dedicated controls, that you know work with all its games.
2. Windows RT/8 is based on tiles, so could be reduced to a 7" screen by reducing a row of tiles. The OS works on a 4" screen.
3. Xbox Live on Windows Phone 7 was just a branding exercise on ordinary mobile games. It wasn’t a real Xbox Live experience. If Microsoft creates mobile versions of its Xbox first-party titles, it would offer something new to mobile gamers.
4. Microsoft is a huge company that has lacked good ideas, not manpower. Xbox is a successful brand, and there is no indication Microsoft can’t focus on Windows 8 and a 7" tablet.
5. Xbox Live has been around for almost 10 years. They’ve done the opposite of jump the gun. They’ve sat on a great brand, or used it in name only. This rumored tablet is an opportunity for Microsoft to advance Xbox Live while moving into a relevant space, mobile, that has so far lacked quality gaming controls, and the games we play on consoles in mobile form.
By i77ogical on 11.06.12 2:49pm
And part of the reason gaming pads/controls aren’t that good is because at the end of the day these devices are touch-enabled first and foremost. Rather than being relegated to a joystick, face and shoulder buttons, developers are creating touch controls that are arguably more fun and interesting to play.
As for the Xbox brand, you’re spot on there. MS has done nothing but squander a great opportunity. Instead they’ve let Apple basically beat them on their own grown with Game Center. GC is hardly as robust as XBL but it’s something a lot of iOS and even OS X users are making good use of but with more than 2 years with XBL on Windows Phone 7 they’ve done absolutely nothing with it.
All the rest of your comments are based on hope, which is fine but Microsoft’s track record lately hasn’t been all that stellar but in their case they NEED this to work. Otherwise both Apple and Android will run all over them.
By mrlangston on 11.06.12 5:28pm
I think that’s exactly the point. Developers are forced to compromise on controls and even gameplay because of the lack of good and proper gaming pads/controls on a phone/tablet. But if MS creates a phone/tablet that has first-class gaming input, then developers might actually begin taking advantage of those and create games that have a console feel.
Right now, Windows 8 Modern UI games are highly encouraged (or maybe even forced) to support not only touch, but also kbm input. This is a big advantage over Android and iOS where most games support only touch input.
By mrxlqt on 11.06.12 8:26pm
But consider the KBM + Touch (KBM+T) workflow; I just can’t imagine how that would work effectively with twitch games that requires you to move from the joystick or face buttons to touching the screen. A lot of touch-based games have managed to do just fine without traditional joysticks while also offering, again, an experience that can’t be had on a console.
A good barometer is the PS Vita to see if KBM+T is a good idea or not. But we’re also talking about a smaller screen that’s easier to balance in your hands versus a 7" tablet that may be more difficult to balance based on the weight.
As for touch controls, I don’t see it as a downgrade of controls, simply a different format that consoles can’t match.
By mrlangston on 11.06.12 9:48pm
Even if it doesn’t run unmodified RT apps, hopefully you could develop for it with the same tools you develop for RT, and it would just be a new compilation target. Given the difference in size, I think that would be a workable compromise.
By tesseractive on 11.06.12 2:23pm
That’s because it was shit hardware with even shittier games and the shittiest support Sony could muster. You had to rebuy any PSone Classics to use on that ill-equipped phone and Sony really did nothing to make it stand out or give customers a reason to buy it. No exclusive games, no awesome, must-have functionality…they half-assed it and it shows.
By kkerley on 11.06.12 12:17pm