Rumor: Gamerscores transferring to next Xbox console

by Alexander Sliwinski { May 14th 2008 at 3:00AM }

A rumor in Game Informer (full text from GI after the break) states that Gamerscores and achievements will be transferable to Microsoft's next console. As far a rumors go, this is one many Xbox 360 owners might pray Microsoft wouldn't prevent from becoming a reality.

Achievements and Gamerscores are two features of the Xbox 360 that have developed a strong following, particularly among "ch33vo-holics." We can already imagine the internet ~~hissy-fit temper-tantrum~~ freak out we'll see if the Xbox faithful can't transfer their data. Although the next console is still years away, it would be unfortunate to envision Microsoft not allowing gamers to transfer their data effortlessly to the next system.

[Via X3F]

"We've also heard that Microsoft is already putting into place its philosophy for the new console, and one thing that will definitely be included is letting existing Xbox 360 gamers migrate their Gamertag over to the new system. Your achievements would also transfer onto the new system instead of having you start from scratch. Loose talk has also heard that Microsoft is already approaching developers about the new system." -- Game Informer (June '08)

[Thanks to Matt at GI for the actual text]

Tags: achievement, achievements, gamerscore, xbox-720, xbox720

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

why not the LS2LS7? @ May 14th 2008 3:09AM

First, what next Xbox? MS just denied it coming to be in 2009.

Second, of course Gamerscore will come over. MS makes a lot of money off gamescore whores, they're not going to reset their figures and give them a reason to think of going to another platform.

Chris @ May 14th 2008 3:32AM

They denied a redesign, but they waited 4 years between the Xbox and the Xbox 360, so going by that the next generation for them would be in 2009.

why not the LS2LS7? @ May 14th 2008 3:56AM

Yeah, except they denied it. They can't really deceive, it's grounds for a shareholder lawsuit.

They shortened the live of the last Xbox to get onto a cycle a year ahead of PlayStation. Now that they've done that, they don't really need to do the same this time through.

mike @ May 14th 2008 4:01AM

do you live with the assumintion that only 1 year into the future exsist? Microsoft can talk about whatever they want for their next console, even if its release date is 2075

XLM @ May 14th 2008 4:06AM

"Yeah, except they denied it. They can't really deceive, it's grounds for a shareholder lawsuit."

Uh, could you imagine the shareholder revolt if they admitted it was true and essentially killed off new 360 sales for the next 12 months?

They are free to deny everything and in fact most companies (including MS) do so quite regularly. By and large announcements tend be be done on the companies terms.

Chris @ May 14th 2008 5:21AM

"Yeah, except they denied it."

Nintendo denied the DS Lite the day before they released it. Major corporation denials mean nothing, especially when a confirmation would hurt sales.

Demaar @ May 14th 2008 5:45AM

Exactly. Who really cares if gamerscore is transfered? The real question is, what about DLC, XBLA and Xbox originals ownership?

Vcize @ May 14th 2008 10:03AM

They moved from the Xbox to the 360 because the original Xbox was a raging failure that was bleeding money.

They're not having that problem with the 360 so they have no need to rush into the next gen this time.

why not the LS2LS7? @ May 14th 2008 11:14AM

Well, I work for a major company, and know we cannot issue false denials. If something is true, all the company can officially say is "no comment".

You can say things like "we have no plans for blah" when you don't have plans yet, even though you know next week you'll be going into a planning meeting to set that up. But you can't actually lie in public statements about what you are doing that might affect the value of the company (stock price), cause it sets shareholder expectations and then they can sue when they determine the information was false.

Smoke_Dawg_187 @ May 15th 2008 2:26AM

It's called the Osborne Effect LS2.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osbourne_Effect

Happy Gaming!

Einhanderkiller @ May 14th 2008 3:17AM

All the gamerscore stuff is tied to your Windows Live ID so I don't see why that stuff wouldn't transfer over.

Philip (Fernando Rocker Defence Force) @ May 14th 2008 3:18AM

Isn't this pretty much a given? Microsoft has spawned a new way to play games. If they took this out or reset your Gamerscore all the ch33vo whores would jump ship.

Lone Starr @ May 14th 2008 3:19AM

This would be more surprising if it didn't happen. Achievements were one of the defining successes of this generation, MS is not going to suddenly throw them to the wind.

NATO_Duke @ May 14th 2008 10:12AM

Seems the only rational thing to do would be to transfer the scores for people. It makes them happy, gets colsole loyalty, and sells more games. I couldn't imagine any reason to not have the system on the next xbox.

Losing the feature could only lead to angering users and having them jump to another console (or at least refusing to buy the new one). That would be supid.

TheHuntIsOn @ May 14th 2008 4:25AM

MS will make another console? Financially haven't both systems been a disaster? Wonder if they are really that desperate to get another console out considering they only really do well in the US.

Chimaera @ May 14th 2008 5:05AM

How was BOTH of them a disaster? Both are making a profit for them and both are extremely successful.. besides Japan...

Have you been living under a rock or under Nintendo's/Sony's tit?

Chase @ May 14th 2008 5:08AM

Must be pillow tits - or those featured on Abdullah the Butcher.

TheHuntIsOn @ May 14th 2008 5:10AM

So the original Xbox didn't finish off with a loss of $4billion, has the 360 made a profit yet?

They probably make a fortune on Xbox Live. Wonder if that's enough to cover the RRoD though.

And I'm sucking no-ones tits. Simple common sense says that if you're not making money with X product then either get it making a profit or cut it off. It's been 7 years now.

Rususeruru @ May 14th 2008 6:06AM

The 360 has turned profit for the last quarter or more, so Microsoft sees reason to continue but the RRoD also hopefully taught them to actually focus on build quality next generation. Very few companies are headstrong enough to enter a market and continue to operate at a loss, MS is one of the few that can afford it. Besides MS typically will make three stabs at a market before considering throwing in the towel and the 360 has proven they can succeed in getting a MS product into the living room, a long standing goal.

Vcize @ May 14th 2008 10:09AM

I doubt they've made much off Live (it's more of a system seller than a direct profit maker), but in the videogame world there's this magical little thing called videogames...you know, software?

Microsoft is making a killing on that front. Obviously they've taken a loss on the hardware in total (even though they're turning a profit on currently sold consoles) - every ~3 year old console not named Wii does.

NATO_Duke @ May 14th 2008 10:26AM

I dont know about this financial disaster you are talking about. Their corporate reports may shed light:

"Xbox and PC game revenue increased $650 million or 19% as a result of increased Xbox 360 platform sales..."

"EDD operating loss increased primarily due to the $1.06 billion Xbox 360 charge recognized in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007 and Zune launch-related expenses. The increase in operating loss was partially offset by increased Xbox 360 platform sales and decreased Xbox 360 console manufacturing costs. Headcount-related costs increased 15%, driven by a 9% increase in headcount and an increase in salaries and benefits for existing headcount, partially offset by a decrease in stock-based compensation expense. "

Revenue [in millions] (2007)$6,083 (2006)$4,756 (2005)$3,515

Operating loss $(1,892) $(1,284) $(539)

http://www.microsoft.com/msft/reports/ar07/staticversion/10k_fr_dis.html (Its the entertainment division)

why not the LS2LS7? @ May 14th 2008 11:21AM

Original Xbox was a disaster. It lost them a ton of money, was outsold in two markets by the Gamecube. It finished its lifespan with a price rise (to $175 plus packed in Forza from $150) and far above what a console should fall to because it was never designed right, so it wasn't affordable to make.

In the end, they net lost about $100 a unit sold.

360 is doing better, I don't know about huge success, it's going to end up in last place this generation (after being 2nd last time), outsold in Japan and Europe by the PS3 (and of course Wii). The design is extremely poor from a reliability point of view, but it is a more cost-effective design.

I'd say if it weren't for the $1B writedown, 360 was a success. With it, it's probably just a minor success. But it is a huge step to build on, they learned a lot more about making and marketing a console in this generation. This might make the difference next time around.

hey_big_dck psn:fuliano626 @ May 14th 2008 3:22PM

wow wow whoa what's wrong with sucking a tit would you rather suck a @#$%%?

Chase @ May 14th 2008 5:07AM

Another rumor: Sonic is a hedgehog.

Crazy, I know.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ May 14th 2008 2:22PM

NO WAI!!!!

Paulmichael @ May 14th 2008 5:55AM

There's no data to transfer over, that shit is stored online...

IncredibleBulk92 @ May 14th 2008 5:57AM

More importantly what is going to happen to the XBLA and my dlc and all the content already up on the marketplace. MS will be in a very strange position where they want to improve the console but everybody still wants access to these 360 features and abilities

Microswirl @ May 14th 2008 6:02AM

My best guess is Xbox 720 won't be a graphical and processing overhaul like the 360 was compared to the original. Rather, the next Xbox will be a small iteration on the 360's hardware, but with a Blu-ray, motion controls, internal HDD, IPTV (which is why Microsoft needs to wait a couple years, until the IPTV carriers have their ducks in a row), and expanded interconnectivity and applications for the WM6+ phones and the Zune gaming platform. It will be running on older, quieter, more stable hardware so the system will launch at a price LOWER than the 360 was at its launch, likely $300, and still turn a profit.

Greyseal @ May 14th 2008 7:12AM

Two XBox 360s duct taped together?

Korova @ May 14th 2008 8:02AM

But will it still be a good hairdryer?

Nate @ May 14th 2008 8:25AM

...so it'll be a PS3?

TheHuntIsOn @ May 14th 2008 8:34AM

... But with an actual respectable position in modern gaming.

Greyseal @ May 14th 2008 7:11AM

I'm not getting excited until I know that my DLC and XBLA games are also safe. When I got a replacement 360 (RRoD), I was pissed to find out that my games and DLC now require me to be online in order to play the full versions due to MS's DRM. If this content barely works correctly on its home console, I'm not expecting Microsoft to get the next-gen transfer to work in any convenient manner.

Findeh @ May 14th 2008 8:18AM

So long as the peripherals I've bought for the 360 canbe used with whatever new stuff, cause they're damned expensive.

WiNG [Life in a Game] @ May 14th 2008 11:23AM

XBox1080 will have motion controls.

RoundeyeSamura @ May 14th 2008 10:14AM

Wow... you guys get really excited over nothing. Eventually we will see another iteration of the Xbox. MS doesn't have to jump on that boat any time soon because their only Next Gen competition hasn't even really proved itself as a gaming platform (software wise). The 360 is turning a profit for them, the software is turning an even bigger profit, and they are still churning out majow updates and hardware improvements with each sku.

Microswirl has it pretty much in the bag with his predictions. It won't be a huge step of a generation but more of a refinement of what we are currently using.