We have been constantly hearing the latest news regarding the upcoming next-gen consoles, which include the PS5 and Xbox Series X. The details of the latter, however, are being revealed pretty consistently.
Earlier, Microsoft stated that the team is focused on investing in graphics and processing power on the Xbox Series X and now it seems that the company wants to drive game audio to the next level with dedicated audio hardware.
This information comes directly the description for a GDC 2020 panel, and therefore we can safely trust it. "Learn from the audio designers of Borderlands 3 and Gears of War 5 around how a collaboration between Microsoft, Dolby, and our middleware partners kicked off a revolution with spatial sound that turns any pair of headphones into a multi-dimensional gateway to another world," the information states. "Attendees will dive deep into the audio design pipeline (Project Acoustics) and the relationship to dedicated hardware-acceleration on newer generation Xbox consoles."
If you're wondering, the Xbox One X does not feature a dedicated audio hardware. Most gaming consoles process audio on CPUs, with a dedicated graphics card for graphics acceleration. Although most gaming PCs support a discrete sound card, many of them do just fine with the onboard audio processor built on the motherboard. If Microsoft is implementing audio acceleration in Xbox Series X, we can expect to see a greater emphasis on sound for the new generation of games.
However, last year PS5 architect Mark Cerny stated that the console's chipset will include a custom unit that will support 3D audio, which is expected to "make you feel more immersed in the game as sounds come at you from above, from behind, and from the side."
Although all of this information sounds pretty exciting, it also expected to come at a big price tag. With a shortage of components and pricey materials, the manufacturing cost of a single PS5 is said to be more than $450. And Xbox Series X is no different, as the console is using the same components as the PS5.
The Xbox Series X is expected to launch later this year. The official release date has yet to be announced.
