Rumor has it that Microsoft developers are potentially preparing Xbox 720 games through their largest internal studio game developers Rare, Lionhead, and Turn 10.
According to the latest news in the latest issue of Xbox World magazine, game developers Turn 10 and Lionhead are working on software for Microsoft’s next generation console. This is not unexpected news because these two developers have been churning out consistent game titles for the current Xbox 360. It is not a surprise that Turn 10 and Lionhead are spearheading the development of future games for the Xbox 720.
Turn 10 could be working on the future title Forza Motorsport 5, one of the popular Xbox game titles. It could be ready for the new Xbox 720 in due time in part because Forza 3 launched on October of 2009, followed by Forza 4 this month. A 2-year gap would allow Forza 5 to finish in time if the Xbox 720 was to be launched sometime in 2013.
Will Forza Motorsport 4 be the last version for the current Xbox 360? Turn 10’s Dan Greenawalt hinted that there could still be a future title in the Forza series for the Xbox 360 due to possible improvements in graphics not related to better hardware. Plus, the current platform of the Xbox 360 that has been several years out already. It would make it easier to implement a newer better version without the need for extra RAM or more advanced hardware.
Lionhead, developer for the Xbox game title Fable, could also be planning to be developing a future title Fable 4 in due time for 2013. However, after a poor response to the latest Fable 3, a new mainline series could be underway, as hinted by Peter Molyneux of Lionhead. The next Fable game will be a spin-off of The Journey made for the Kinect onlyl.
News has it that game developer Rare is brainstorming ideas for a new “mature” game to be launched for the next Xbox 720. It might be a surprise that Rare is given this opportunity to be developing games for the future Xbox since they were mainly the focus on Microsoft’s Kinect game titles and Xbox Avatars for years. The only major games they have released since are Banjo Kazooie Nuts and Bolts and Viva Pinata. Perfect Dark Zero is their only major game for the mature gaming audience, and that was a huge disappointment. Rare boss Craig Duncan stated that games should be fun and innovative, not necessarily about the classic genres or characters. What can we expect from Rare? Will they come out with a major game title anytime soon that is not Kinect related? Perhaps the new console will boost Rare’s profile in the gaming industry.