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Update: The Xbox Lockhart documentation leak has drawn out some new details on what kind of hardware it may include.
The leak of documents created for game developers included reference to a Lockhart profiling mode. According to anonymous sources cited by The Verge (opens in new tab), this option is included in Xbox Series X (opens in new tab) developer kits to let creators test their games against the lower-performance specs being targeted for Lockhart.
Those specs reportedly include “7.5GB of usable RAM, a slightly underclocked CPU speed, and around 4 teraflops of GPU performance”, as compared to Xbox Series X’s targets for 13.5GB of usable ram and 12 teraflops of GPU performance. Recent rumors indicate that the Xbox Lockhart price could be half that of Xbox Series X (opens in new tab), so those reduced hardware capabilities could be accompanied by a significantly smaller hit to your bank account.
Those same rumors also point to Xbox Lockhart finally getting its big debut at the Xbox 20/20 event in July (opens in new tab), so hopefully we’ll have some more solid info about the much-leaked console soon.
Original story follows
Xbox Lockhart has re-surfaced in documentation that solidifies its existence as a complementary console to Xbox Series X (opens in new tab).
A security researcher who goes by TitleOS on Twitter posted a couple of snippets from the June version of Microsoft’s GameCore Development Kit notes, which are available to developers but not typically to the public. The notes mention “LockhartProfiling modes” alongside “AnacondaProfiling”, all as part of the development kit for Project Scarlett.
More proof of Lockhart, this time from the XDK/GDK release notes for June 2020. pic.twitter.com/hulDoC9owvJune 24, 2020
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It’s all but confirmed at this point that Anaconda is the internal Microsoft codename for Xbox Series X, while Project Scarlett refers to the company’s overarching plans for its next console generation. Lockhart is allegedly a lower-priced alternative to Anaconda/Xbox Series X, with less powerful hardware and no built-in disc drive.
TitleOS previously shared some code from the backend of Windows that pointed to Lockhart (opens in new tab). Today, they retweeted another dataminer who spotted references to Lockhart in the Xbox One operating system itself.
Further mentions for Lockhart are scattered throughout the Xbox One OS – including the development tools and more. Raises interest given @XB1_HexDecimal’s information. pic.twitter.com/sLFmp3XTi5June 25, 2020
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Though Lockhart has been showing up in leaks for quite some time now, Microsoft has still yet to officially confirm it with less than half a year between now and the holiday 2020 launch window for Xbox Series X. Microsoft could always launch the console later down the line, giving Xbox Series X more time to stand on its own.
On the other hand, Sony recently revealed that it will launch the PS5 Digital Edition (opens in new tab) at the same time as its disc-drive-bearing version this year. We’ll have to wait and see if that influences Microsoft’s overarching plans.
See what’s on the way in Microsoft’s next-generation with our guide to upcoming Xbox Series X games (opens in new tab).
