Xbox has finally lifted the lid on its grand plans for its long-term strategy. While the majority of the focus was, unsurprisingly, on its first-party future, we’ve also learned a little bit more about what it has in store for its hardware division. Apparently the next-gen Xbox will have the “largest technical leap” between console generations we’ve ever seen.
Speaking on the new Xbox Podcast episode, Xbox president Sarah Bond reaffirms that consoles aren’t being taken off the menu contrary to the more extreme rumors that have been circulating. “When we look at our hardware, it really is where you get the most flagship, seminal experience of Xbox,” Bond states.
The accompanying Xbox Wire post corroborates this, noting that “a robust and innovative multi-year hardware roadmap” remains one of Xbox’s core tenets. We can hear the collective sighs of relief for those hoping to continue playing the best Xbox games on their favorite platform.
“There’s some exciting stuff coming out in hardware that we’re going to share this holiday,” Bond continues. “We’re also invested in the next-generation roadmap. What we’re really focused on there is delivering the largest technical leap you will have ever seen in a hardware generation, which makes it better for players and better for creators and the visions that they’re building.”
But what will this next-gen super console look like? Recent reports have stipulated that the next-gen Xbox launch will consist of both a traditional, high-powered Xbox, as well as a dockable, portable console akin to Nintendo’s Switch. Xbox CEO Phil Spencer certainly has a soft spot for the latter.
“I’m a big fan of that space,” Spencer tells The Verge in a fresh interview. Noting the sort of access the Switch, the Steam Deck, and other portables offer players to their favorite games, it’s clear that he’s been thinking about it. Considering the ROG Ally and Legion GO both run Windows 11, there’s already a solid OS basis for such a console.
“One of the weak points in the experience on a ROG or the Lenovo [Legion Go] is Windows,” Spencer notes. “How Windows works on controller input only on that kind of DPI, on a smaller eight- or seven-inch screen. That’s a real design point that our platform team is working with Windows to make sure that the experience is even better.” The ROG and Legion GO today, possibly the Xbox of tomorrow – the pieces are certainly aligning.
While he remains coy over what next-gen Xbox will entail, Spencer does reveal that “[we’re] really thinking about creating hardware that sells to gamers because of the unique aspects of the hardware.” Make of that what you will, but it certainly sounds like future consoles are going to diverge from the norm to some extent.
Though there’s little to go off of in terms of concrete answers, that was always to be expected in a slick PR operation such as this. What’s clear, however, is that Xbox isn’t about to concede ground to PlayStation in the hardware arena, even if the current and last-generation consoles have failed to offer sufficient competition.
Elsewhere in the podcast, the rumors of Xbox exclusives heading to rival platforms was finally confirmed. While Spencer didn’t reveal the names of the four games involved, a new report has.
For more of the latest Xbox news, check out the Xbox sale that’s currently offering up to 90% off 125 incredible games, including Call of Duty MW3.