Unpacking what that means requires a short history lesson. Back when rumors of Project Scarlett first started to trickle out in 2018, publications like Thurrott suggested that Microsoft planned to release two devices: “Anaconda,” a traditional console with high-end specs; and “Lockhart,” a cheaper cloud-based device with minimal local computing capabilities. The pitch of Lockhart, at least at the time, was that it had just enough processing power to handle “specific tasks like controller input, image processing and importantly, collision detection.” In this way, the console would allow you to stream a game without any of the usual drawbacks associated with the tech like input delay. In later reports, the focus of Lockhart seemed to shift from a cloud streaming device to a more traditional console.

The important development is that when Microsoft finally shared official details on Project Scarlett at its recent E3 keynote in June, Xbox chief Phil Spencer didn’t mention a cheaper console at all. In fact, when he was subsequently asked about the possibility of multiple Project Scarlett consoles by Business Insider, he said, “Last year we said consoles, and we’ve shipped a console and we’ve now detailed another console. I think that’s plural.” Subsequent reporting by The Verge suggested Microsoft scrapped plans for Lockhart several weeks before it announced Project Scarlett at E3.

Returning to today’s report, it now seems Microsoft is once again at least considering a second version of Project Scarlett — though that doesn’t mean the two devices will come out at the same time next holiday season.

The device Schreier details in his report also sounds like the more traditional console that was a feature of later reports related to Lockhart. According to the developers he spoke to, they think of the console as the successor to the Xbox One S (as opposed to the console we know is coming at the end of next year, which they see succeeding the Xbox One X). One developer told Schreier Lockhart features similar specs to the PlayStation 4 Pro, though it reportedly includes a solid-state drive and a faster processor than any current generation console. Schreier adds Microsoft aims for the console to render most games at 1440p and 60 frames per second — real-world performance may vary, however.

Importantly, Schreier doesn’t say how much the console will cost, nor when Microsoft will release it. As usual with these types of reports, remember that things change — if the mini-history lesson didn’t make that clear already. Until Microsoft announces something, there’s no guarantee that we’ll see a more affordable version of Project Scarlett.

With the launch of the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition, the most affordable tier now starts at $19.99 per month for 24 months. Alternatively, you can get an Xbox One S for $22.99 per month for 24 months or an Xbox One X for $30.99 per month for 24 months. Whichever console you pick up, each comes with a 24-month membership to Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass Ultimate service, which bundles together Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass. The former allows you to play games online, as well as get access to Microsoft Store discounts, while the latter is Microsoft’s monthly subscription service that includes more than 100 games. Once you’ve done the math, all three tiers represent a discount over purchasing the consoles outright and paying for the services individually.

Once Microsoft launches Project Scarlett next holiday season, you’ll be able to upgrade to the company’s next-generation console provided you’ve made at least 18 payments on your existing purchase and return your console, controller and power cord in “good working order.” There’s also a $20 fee if you’re upgrading from the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition.

If you end up springing for an Xbox One X, you’ll be able to upgrade to Project Scarlett after making 12 payments. That’s an offer that’s available for a limited time and will effectively allow you to get your hands on Scarlett as soon as it’s available. The catch here is that you’ll need to qualify for and sign a new 24-month financing contract for the next-gen system. Microsoft hasn’t said how much financing a Project Scarlett console through Xbox All Access will cost.

How ICE picks its targets in the surveillance age
McKenzie Funk,
The New York Times

Through the lens of officers operating in the Pacific Northwest, The New York Times explains how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) collects information on possible targets. That includes monitoring social media accounts and tapping into “the world’s largest privately run database of license-plate scans.”

In an exclusive interview with Gamespot, Spencer said that consistency would be at the top of the agenda for the new console, ensuring that games load fast and run at the highest frame rate possible (in this case, 60 frames-per-second). Crucially, backwards compatibility will play a major role in the console’s design.

“Making sure that all four generations of content — so the original Xbox games that run on your Xbox One today, the OG Xbox; the 360 games that run on your Xbox One; your Xbox One games; and the new generation games — all run on the next platform is important to us,” said Spencer, adding that players with different generations of consoles will still be able to play each other.

Furthermore — and in a move that Spencer says “is a little bit new” for Microsoft — the console will “respect the compatibility of the controllers you already have.” Spencer points to players’ investment in personalized controllers, and says that the company wants to make sure those are compatible with future generations of the console as well.

This is all good news for Xbox fans. Upgrading to a new console can be a headache — restrictions on backwards compatibility and cross-gen gaming means players lose out on their previous gaming investments, or even put off buying a newer console because of all the mucking around involved. Microsoft seems to be showing genuine respect for its audience with these features, which is vital if the console is poised to dominate the market as critics believe it will when it launches next year.