Just in case anyone else asks the same question, yes, its unified. The architecture is Jaguar-based and it is the same basic design as the PS4. Microsoft just opted for cheaper hardware in order to drive the cost of the console down low enough to include Kinect in the bundle and still make money off it.
If you're still wondering, check out any of the
reviews online of the Radeon HD7790. The AMD GPU inside the PS4/XO is based on Bonaire's design. In the PS4 it's faster than the desktop HD7850 and in the XO its the equivalent of the Radeon HD7770. For comparison, the Wii U is estimated to have a HD6670 for graphics.
Take whatever scores Bonaire gets and imagine that's boosted to 60FPS with everything on Ultra.
The reason why no-one complains is because of the tradeoffs that Steam brings us. Sure, you can only sign into your account from one location, but you can have your games installed on your PC at home, at work and even on a laptop or tablet, switching between them as often as you like and having your save games available wherever you go. The online requirement, which is, by the way, only needed for installation, updating and multi-player features, isn't that bad in the case of Steam.
Honestly, while the hardware excites me, I really don't care about what's in it, or what it can do - I just want to see a commitement from the company that the games will always be the main focus and that they'll deliver to gamers first and foremost. After all, that's why I bought their product. I realise that the PS3/Xbox 360 can do other things and can do those other things very well, but the games are the main selling point.
Sony did the right thing by addressing the core markets, the one that matter most to the console's success. They had indie devs, AAA devs and Sony employees talk about the console and what they're planning, highlighting some of the services and features. For Sony, the money they're going for is from console and game sales. The PSN is secondary, but it earns them a decent profit and there's much better value with the yearly subscription. Like the Wii U, its also a great market for indie developers.
The XO reveal, by contrast, was focused on other markets. Admittedly, this is because Microsoft realises the console can sell better and if they can get more people to buy it for reasons other than gaming, then that's totally cool. But they didn't address the gamers too well. The XO's features are tailored for the US market, they paid no lip service to indie devs, they only had EA, Activision and studios that they themselves publish speak about what they were planning. It just didn't seem gamer-friendly even though we know that there will be games - lots of them - but that first impression leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.
They can make up for that somewhat at E3 but Microsoft already revealed their true colours - they're in this for maximum profit and they're not focused on gaming, but other revenue streams. I fear that they're getting greedy and may be biting off more than they can chew.
The PS4 event was designed to woo gamers and attract developers to a company that seemed more confident and forward-thinking, one that had learnt from its mistakes. The XO is the opposite and is, in fact, making many of the same mistakes Sony did with the PS3. I wish them luck, they're going to need it.
Originally Posted by Wesley
