Crytek denies knowledge of new Xbox

By Fred Dutton Published 17 June, 2011

Plus, DX11 Crysis 2 patch due "shortly".

Crysis studio Crytek has denied reports that it's already developing for the Xbox 360's successor.

Earlier this week, a "high-ranking" insider claimed the developer was working on Timesplitters 4 for the new machine, which Microsoft would probably unveil at E3 2012.

However, today Crytek handed a statement to IGN denying any knowledge of a new system from Microsoft.

"Relating to the recent rumours, Crytek do not have any next generation hardware from Microsoft, nor do we know when Microsoft may announce future hardware or what that hardware will entail," it read.

The studio also took the opportunity to reassure gamers that the promised DirectX 11 update for the PC version of Crysis 2 is imminent.

"Crytek are working at pushing the boundaries of what current technology can bring, including our focus on DX11 which will be released shortly as an update for Crysis 2, and we believe this work, added to our estimations of what the new hardware will provide, set up CryENGINE as a next generation engine for all consoles."

Last month, a rumour did the rounds that EA is already working with next-gen Xbox dev kits, while earlier this week Avalanche Studios announced it was about to start developing a new IP for the next round of consoles.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (39) Latest comment 11 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • thebuttonz #1 11 months ago

    Confirmed. Can't wait for E3 2012. Unless I mis-read that..?

  • tonydude #2 11 months ago

    oh by the way sort out the tooled up trophy and make it retro active idiots

  • Subdominator #3 11 months ago

    So what they try to say is "We are a leading engine developer but we have no clue what and when the next gen will be". Yeah, right. Epic and Crytek will be among the first to know, I think Epic even gave early input on how the 360 should be designed. Engine developers are crucial to a platform owner because they guarantee easy portability and a constant stream of games. Which is why Microsoft made sure to have an exclusive series made by Epic and which is why they have an exclusive game coming from Crytek. Even if the next gen isn't due until 2014 they would have to know exactly what kind of hardware to expect and they would already have to be working on launch titles. Current gen development takes two plus years for a AAA title, that will only be even more for the next gen.

    The only reason why they deny it is an NDA. I bet Microsoft already has bought TimeSplitters and Epics next IP (the one from the UE 3.99999 demo some months ago) for the holiday season of years 1 and 2 of the next gen life cycle.

  • jellyBelly #4 11 months ago

    I was going to chime in but subdominator said it all really

  • Quixz #5 11 months ago

    They must have gotten a call from an unhappy Microsoft LOl

    @Subdominator

    You nailed it!

    Bring on THE NEXT GEN!

  • geox30 #6 11 months ago

    Good.I paused my playthrough in anticipation for this patch!

  • FireMonkey #7 11 months ago

    @subdominator - If they do have or do know about the next gen they would have just kept quiet rather than outright denying it. It is not seen as good form for a large company to lie like that, rather they would stay quiet or say the old 'we do not comment on rumour or speculation'.

    Just because it takes a few years to create a AAA game, does not indicate that they must be working on a new console as that would only be true if the release date for the next consoles is the next few years and there is no real evidence of that, but some to the contrary. For instance MS were advertising for hardware architects in march. If these are for the new XBox that means that they are only just starting to design the hardware for the consoles. To get the design finalised, tested and manufactured in 2 years is pushing the limits of what is possible and would be a mistake. I'd image that we have more like 4 years left until a new XBox is in the shops and 2 until specs are released to devs.

  • raloB #8 11 months ago

    All I know is, if people are talking about it, it must be true.

  • L0cky #9 11 months ago

    Where there's smoke there's bacon.

  • Sonic_D #10 11 months ago

    Mmmm, bacon :p

  • Redsonny #11 11 months ago

    Slightly better graphics don't need a new console. RDR, for example, looked superb. But better AI, better physics and better FPS would make a huge difference. Not so easy to sell those attributesl. We do need a new generation because this one is running out of steam. We would all like this generation to last for 20 years but the facts are game sales are declining and the major developers/publishers need sales to justify AAA games. RDR sold 6 million in the first month, LA Noire sold 900,000. For me the figures say it all (though arguably RDR is a far better game but it's not the point).

    The games industry needs some razzmatazz, and that's showbusiness folks. Even though it sux it is needed.

  • Gunhappy23 #12 11 months ago

    Am i the only on that thinks we need the next gen??? Look at the battlefield 3 ps3 footage and compare that to the pc footage i want that amount of detail in 1080p on my console and when the DX11 patch comes out for crysis 2 we will see how much crytek had to cut down to get it to run on current gen consoles. Bring on the next gen IM READY!!
    Edited by Gunhappy23 at 18/06/11 @ 03:10

  • Cyclone #13 11 months ago

    To be honest, I don't think we need the next gen yet. There's still a lot of life left in this generation. Look at some of the console games that were shown at E3. With the economy still not fantastic anywhere, it's highly likely that both Sony and Microsoft will follow Nintendo's example, and build upon their existing technology. For a next gen console to be competitive it can't be sold at $500 and $600; $300 to $400 would be a much better price point. At that price level, while newer technology could bring things close/near on pare with the pc, you'd have to ask yourself whether that graphical difference would be enough to sell Joe Punter on a new console. Again, with the economy the way it is I'd have my doubts. If a shot of adrenalin is needed for the console ecosystem, then the best way to do that would be through price drops.
    Edited by Cyclone at 18/06/11 @ 05:14

  • Machiavellian #14 11 months ago

    @FireMonkey
    Well I am sure that Id, Epic and Crytek have their say in what they want and I am sure MS has consulted them on it. They might not know what MS hardware plans are yet because I am sure they are not finalize.

  • altitude2k #15 11 months ago

    ^_^

    No, we don't need a new generation yet. But an announcement at E3 next year means a year and a half down the line release - maybe later. I may be ready by then.

    This rumour just doesn't give me the impression it could gave been made up.

  • koopa #16 11 months ago

    So, every rumour is true if a company confirms it, denies it, or doesn't comment on it... Got it.

    What if the next console is coming in 2014, Crytek doesn't have to know anything about it yet, they don't have any special relationship with Microsoft...

  • ToAks #17 11 months ago

    new console will give exclusives so i am sure m$ wants it but i have my doubts about them having one to show anytime soon. that said, several of the senior architect designers for both the old and new xbox's are extremely talented people but they need time and even more focus than ever before as i am sure M$ would be pretty upset if there was another generation of RROD's on the horizon.

  • 43n1m4 #18 11 months ago

    Let's patch the leak :)

    I expect, or hope, the nextbox will be released late 2013, and perhaps hinted at on E3 2012. I think it depends on whether or not the 28nm production process is ready, mature and have good yields by that time. Oh, well, back to the good ol' 360.

  • Tomo #19 11 months ago

    So much for... "we don't comment on rumour or speculation."

  • Empedocles #20 11 months ago

    Crytek = Bullshit........

  • dagas #21 11 months ago

    Is this a new way to market your patches? "We know nothing about X, but check out our patch!"

  • StooMonster #22 11 months ago

    On the topic of the DirectX 11 patch ... will this be updated via Steam?

  • Darren #23 11 months ago

    Yum, DX11 patch soon for PC Crysis 2, I'd honestly given up waiting for it... guess some of us will be getting a slice of next gen Xbox graphics a little earlier than others then! :p
    Edited by Darren at 18/06/11 @ 11:02

  • natureboy #24 11 months ago

    thebuttonz: it is not confirmed but most likely the new xbox will be out at the end of 2012. IMHO i don't see the need for Microsoft to rush out a successor especially when the 360 still got at least 3-4yrs of juice left

  • ThePentatonic #25 11 months ago

    Well they practically confirmed it!

  • FireMonkey #26 11 months ago

    @Machiavellian - Any good developer would have an idea as to what the next gen is going to offer (better graphics throughput at higher res for one and probably a lot of the tech that is already in DX11) and can be making engines that scale up accordingly (if they develop for PC then they would already have an engine that can scale to the various specs. That is all slightly different to 'knowing' what the next-gen is, as the release of the PS3 showed. It was a completely different architecture and that threw a lot of devs who are now only just getting the hang of it.

  • Jacksie66 #27 11 months ago

    @twinberettas
    I agree. Lots of cross platform games seem to suffer on ps3 (i own a ps3 and 360). Bioshock, the orange box and gta 4 spring to mind. I think portal 2 is one if the few games thats actually better on ps3.
    Edited by Jacksie66 at 18/06/11 @ 16:19

  • des #28 11 months ago

    EG posted fake news...shocked

  • DAN.E.B #29 11 months ago

    @spacedelete

    Probably get negged to hell but I completely agree with you.
    Although MS need to remember to keep the AAA games coming as they are slipping a lot lately.

  • BuckEntropy #30 11 months ago

    Well, I basically called this exactly on the first rumor anyway. It's telling that they unequivocally deny possession of any "next-gen" development hardware, yet not even a mention about TimeSplitters 4.

    @Subdominator so yes it's reasonable enough to expect they may begin work on an anticipated launch title at this stage, but with 2013 as the most likely window it's completely absurd to think anyone knows "exactly" what kind of hardware to expect. Not even MS would at this stage. But as they make nearly explicit here, they are gunning for being next-gen's UE3, and DX11 is the best place to start right now, since they can at least be certain of API continuity on the MS platform.

    @twinberettas / djronz / DAN:SOLO - I think Sony's just married to their controller design, it risks alienating the biggest bloc of platform loyalists ever to change it too much. I've always disliked Sony controllers so obviously I still don't like them since they haven't changed. Was actually all psyched for the the PS3 'batarang', as that actually looked like it'd be comfortable (for me). But I seem to recall a lot of backlash from the PS crowd, so not surprising they reverted to form, if it was ever a serious prospect int he first place.

  • drumbaby #31 11 months ago

    As we well know, whatever a software developer says, the opposite is always true.

    Shit, and I was really looking forward to Uncharted 3.

  • spekkeh #32 11 months ago

    if the controller is so shit then how come sony have stuck with it for 15 years

    For the life of me I don't know, games have gone 3d and research in ergonomics has greatly improved since then too. But Sony still sticks to placing the analog stick on the bottom of the controller. If they'd have gone with the boomerangs I would've bought it day one, now it's just crap imo.

  • Syrette #33 11 months ago

    If the next Xbox is Kinect-only then they can forget about me getting one at any point.

  • leketin #34 11 months ago

    "Alright guys... Microsoft told us to tell you there's no new gen console. There's no new gen console."

    /getting back to testing Xbox 720

  • BuckEntropy #35 11 months ago

    @djronz - "the 360 pad is basically an evolution of sony design as are almost all pads you see these days"

    No, I'm not sure where anyone even gets that idea other than a general "the world revolves around Sony" perspective?

    Feature: ergonomic molding - Mega Drive (not a big deal yet or a great example, but it sets the tone, later Sega Saturn design still regarded by many as best 'fighting pads')

    Feature: shoulder buttons - SNES (otherwise almost still a rectangle)

    Features: double paired shoulder buttons, added side grips - PS1 (good if simple ideas, cheap implementation, still a variation of the 'rectangle')

    Features: analogue thumb-stick, optional rumble - N64 (this is the one that really changed everything, probably the first fully ergonomic design as well)

    Features: dual analogue, integrated rumble - Dualshock ( twin stick is a great idea if not relevant till the next-gen, and still just doubling up on what Nintendo did first again, ergonomics virtually unchanged)

    Feature: fully analogue triggers - Saturn Nights pad (unlike Dualshock only one analogue thumb-stick, but it's given place of priority above the d-pad, also a deeper 'square' design, generally duplicated for Dreamcast)

    Feature: pressure sensitive buttons - Dualshock 2 (very little relevance other than as a surrogate for analogue triggers for throttle in driving games)

    Essentially, the only features the original XBOX controller might owe to the Sony design are dual-analogue sticks and pressure sensitive buttons. It's worth noting that Nintendo also adopted dual-analogue even ahead of MS, and both opted for the same asymmetrical configuration, which takes it's precedent more from the Sega layout. MS also adopts the fully analogue triggers of the Sega design as well as the basic shape. The actual dimensions of the original "Duke" were closer to the N64 pad than anything else, though more bulky. One subtle feature I actually don't like is the flared angle of the side grips, it's one thing that can still at times be intolerable with the Dualshock, because holding it naturally forces a very incorrect alignment with the analogue control. And in that respect the 360 is even slightly more like DS, and slightly worse IMO. But it becomes far more of an issue with the DS precisely because of that low inside placement of the analogue, the effective angle is even worse. Otherwise, I guess you could say 360 takes a further cue from the DS with the relocated shoulder buttons, and it was a pretty obvious improvement at that point, but it also loses the pressure sensitive buttons. But the bigger point I'm even trying to make is that no one can claim any clear archetype status, though if you're going to call anyone as having the greater influence on control pad evolution, it clearly has to be Nintendo overall.

    Regardless, the area of debate was more about the controller design rather than the features. And MS took almost all of it's cues from Sega rather than Sony there. Which had a direct effect on my own preference, since the Nights pad was essentially the first pad style controller I ever even found comfortable. Of course I do have large hands - like easily 1/100 large - and so I understand full well why other people may even prefer the DS overall, but I still have to agree there are some decidedly stunted, cheap elements in the design. But now that the consensus has shifted to where most people say they prefer something else for the most popular games (FPS in particular) Sony might make some significant changes next round. Then again everything could be very different by then.

  • brod #36 11 months ago

    Wow, I thought they implemented DX11 months ago..

  • mss99 #37 11 months ago

    Funny how a developer comment on the future xbox was quickly turned into a fanboy war and assault on the PS3 controller. Especially as Microsoft seem intent on moving away from the controller completely and giving hard core experiences like Seasame Street.

  • TheDogsDinner #38 11 months ago

    @mss99

    Wrong.

    just because MGS are publishing titles like Sesame Street and Disneyland Adventures doesn't mean MS have given up on the hardcore. Its the natural result of a console near the end of its cycle - every console goes mass market towards the end of its life as the price points get lower. Games like Gears of War and Halo will still come out, but they're recognising that the ownership of the 360 is now broader and that pretty much every traditional 'gamer' who wants a 360 has got one by now

    You can guarantee the next Xbox will be hardcore games focussed, as they know that's how to entice early adopters to spend £300 on a new system

  • BuckEntropy #39 11 months ago

    For the record I was not "assaulting" the Dualshock, it's an issue I usually don't even bother with since it's legitimate preference. I can even tolerate it fine for most games, unlike say the Gamcube pad, which looked like it should have been perfect for me (deep design, actually more flat and without any flaring), and even felt very comfortable initially, but I outright hated it by the time I'd finished going through Metroid Prime. Literally haven't got that much strain and actual bruising from any controller since the original Atari brick, I'm not exaggerating. All it can take is a rough edge in a couple spots to become a problem for someone. In subtle forming the GC pad was a regression ergonomically from the N64 pad, and both it and the DS seem to be designed around comfort for a very limited 'standard' of human hands, rather than any attempt at accommodating for diverse angles of pressure.

    But having recently seen someone else claim that MS copied the Gamecube controller, and now this idea that everyone else copies the Sony controller... it offends in the first place because everyone has been copying everyone else all along. And as an old school SEGA fanboy, it's particularly offensive to see when MS so obviously adopted the spirit of the DC pad for it's design. It's hijacking credit.