The Game Awards 2019 offered a surprise first official look at the next generation of Xbox with the Series X, including more on specs, launches on the way, and so much more. While the design itself has become a meme in itself, the overall reaction to how the machine is thought to run has overall been met with positive feedback. For most, but not all, and one putting the Xbox Series X on blast – and Xboss Phil Spencer himself – is none other than Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford.
Pitchford once more took to Twitter to offer his own take to Spencer’s comments on Moore’s Law and its slowdown. Confused on the subject matter and what Moore’s Law even is? According to Webster, Moore’s Law is “the principle that the speed and capability of computers can be expected to double every two years, as a result of increases in the number of transistors a microchip can contain.” That law hasn’t exactly held true in the realm of consoles, so Spencer made public his commentary on how Microsoft had to be completely innovative when tackling the next generation of gaming.
Spencer also mentioned it was because of Moore’s Law that they came up with the unique look of the Xbox Series X, something that Pitchford said was just an “excuse.”
Is Moore’s Law slowing down? How many transistors in the Series X? What if Moore’s Law is like the 4-minute mile? Your ambitious message for the Xbox One X was inspiring, but for Series X, well, this feels more like an excuse. https://t.co/7ihDmwWzO3
— Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) December 19, 2019
He followed up with a chart to demonstrate his comment in action due to the backlash his initial callout brought:
Slowed down after that red line. Those above are huge chipsets with bigger dies. The transistors haven’t shrunk in years according to your own chart. pic.twitter.com/BuHCtix3Td
— Matt (@K1NGxKO) December 20, 2019
The comment section, as expected, was divided with saying his explanation was self-contradictory, while others said that the further explanation made sense. From the looks of it, it seems that Pitchford is calling the integrity of the design choice, and its marketing, into question, something that Spencer himself has yet to address.
While talk of the next generation is important and exciting, it’s a bit odd for Pitchford to be this aggressive about Spencer’s commentary this early into the reveal. It will be interesting to see Spencer’s response, if he does, and how exactly Moore’s Law applies when the Xbox Series X launches sometime in the holiday season of 2020.
