Xbox One ‘not targeting’ highest-end graphics

Microsoft is not targeting the highest-end graphics capabilities with the Xbox One, according to an Xbox engineer.

Speaking to Engadget in a making-of video, as reported by CVG, Silicon development GM Greg Williams claimed that the computing giant "purposefully" did not target high-end graphics for the new console.

He went on to say that the reason Microsoft had decided against competing on graphical and game performance was due to its focus on a broad entertainment system, rather than gaming-specific hardware.

It should be noted however that the next Xbox still has competitive specs and will be able to run most, if not all, next-gen multi-platform games.

"We purposefully did not target the highest-end graphics," he said.

"We targeted more as a broad entertainment play and did it in an intelligent way."

He added: "It’s not the first time that Microsoft has done a chip. The people who are here have clearly done them before and we’ve done them within Microsoft before. But this is one of the more strategic plays and in terms of the overall product, that is a clear differentiator, and the [hardware IP] that we’ve developed here is truly unique."

The concession from a Microsoft developer highlights the company’s focus on appealing to a mass audience by gunning for the wider entertainment space.

The move could spell trouble for the firm in its battle with the PS4 however, with Sony’s next-gen console appearing to out muscle Microsoft’s Xbox One hardware in terms of raw power.

It remains to be seen however whether Microsoft’s gamble on turning the Xbox into an entertainment hub will put the company a step ahead once the consoles are released onto the market, regardless of the PS4’s graphical prowess.