Microsoft 'Moving Full Speed Ahead' on Next-Generation Xbox Console: Report

Microsoft has also set up a dedicated team to ensure current Xbox games remain accessible on future hardware.

Written by Manas Mitul | Updated: 9 April 2024 13:16 IST

Microsoft 'Moving Full Speed Ahead' on Next-Generation Xbox Console: Report

Photo Credit: Microsoft

The Xbox Series X launched in 2020

Highlights

Xbox president shared the development in an internal email
Next Xbox is said to be the largest technical leap for a new generation
Microsoft acquired Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard last year

Microsoft teased its plans for next-generation Xbox hardware back in February, saying that it was focussed on delivering the “largest technical leap” for a new console generation with the next Xbox. Now, more details about Microsoft's plans for its next console have emerged, reiterating the same claim. An internal email shared with Xbox staff has revealed that Microsoft is “moving full speed ahead” on its next-generation Xbox hardware.

In a recent email to staffers, Xbox president Sarah Bond shared Microsoft's plans for the next Xbox console and revealed the formation of a new team working on preserving Xbox's current library of games for future hardware. A Windows Central report revealed parts of the email Sunday, shedding a little more light on the next generation of Xbox consoles.

“We are moving full speed ahead on our next generation hardware, focused on delivering the biggest technological leap ever in a generation," Bond reportedly said in the email, reiterating her claim from February, when she first talked about Microsoft's hardware commitment on the Official Xbox Podcast. On both occasions, Bond has stopped short of expanding on what “the biggest technological leap” would construe in real world performance.

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The email, however, does confirm that Microsoft is hard at work on the next Xbox, but it remains unclear at which stage of development the company's next-generation console hardware is.

Microsoft's identity as a platform owner has come under strain of late as Xbox Series S/X console sales lag far behind Sony's PS5 and Nintendo Switch. After several leaks and rumours, the company announced in February its plan to release some of its first-party games on rival platforms. Its decision to release some Xbox exclusive titles on PS5 and Nintendo Switch and a sore lack of triple-A exclusives on its own platform have left the Xbox parent in a perceivably weakened position in the console market.

Microsoft, however, boasts a strong portfolio of game studios, especially since its successful acquisition of Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard last year. While the Xbox Series S/X consoles have failed to kick on in terms of premium first-party titles thus far, big upcoming releases like Senua's Saga: Hellblade II and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will launch this year to likely bring much needed wind in Xbox's sails.

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In her email, Bond also reportedly said that Microsoft had set a up a team to ensure that current Xbox games remain accessible on future hardware. "We are building on our strong history of delivering backwards compatibility to our players, and we remain committed to bringing forward the amazing library of Xbox games for future generations of players to enjoy," the Xbox president said.

While Microsoft has not revealed a launch window for the next generation of Xbox consoles, court documents from the FTC trial in June last year revealed that the company expects the next-gen Xbox and PS6 to launch in 2028.

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Microsoft Xbox Series X

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Good
Really powerful
Delivers constant 4K 60fps
Reduced loading times
Great backward compatibility
Support for Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos
Capable of 8K / 120fps
Network transfer feature

Bad
Expensive
Lack of truly next-gen exclusives
Not a generation leap over Xbox One X at launch
Proprietary storage expansion
No rechargeable battery with controller
Implementation of Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos

Read detailed Microsoft Xbox Series X review

HDD 1TB PCie Gen 4 NVME SSD

Processor Custom 8-core AMD Zen 2 CPU @ 3.8GHz

Graphics Custom AMD RDNA 2 GPU 52 CUs @ 1.825GHz

RAM 16GB GDDR6

USB 3

Weight 4.45kg

Ethernet Gigabit

More Microsoft Gaming Consoles

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Further reading: Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox Series, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S

Manas Mitul

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In his time as a journalist, Manas Mitul has written on a wide spectrum of beats including politics, culture and sports. He enjoys reading, walking around in museums and rewatching films. Talk to Manas about football and tennis, but maybe don’t bring up his video game backlog. More