Earlier this week,Xboxpresident Sarah Bondannounced a multi-year partnershipwith AMD to “co-engineer silicon” for its “next-generation Xbox consoles.” Per that statement, Xbox seems to be once again focusing on multiple consoles for its next hardware cycle, which includes the newXbox handhelds coming later this year, the ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X. Though, the announcement itself has brought more questions than answers for what the future of Xbox is going to entail.
Bond’s announcement emphasizes Windows, with players being able to“play the games you want, with the people you want, and wherever you want.“This message would seemingly indicate that Xbox’s next console might not be a console at all, and whatever it is, it will allow players to play their purchased games however they choose, and with create a collaborative ecosystem for players. But is Xbox’s next “console” actually a PC? The answer isn’t simple, at least not right now.
Xbox’s Next-Gen Console Is Already Causing Confusion
Windows Will Be The Focus
There hasn’t been an official mention of what the “next-gen” Xbox will be. It could be a unique console, a PC, or a new type of device altogether that connects all the hardware that uses or has access to Windows together. Notably, Bond did not mention Xbox being the number one place to play games, keeping the focus on Windows. Since Xbox owner Microsoft also owns Windows, something that the majority of people use every day on their PCs, it’s looking likeXbox is broadening its video game business model beyond consolesand aiming for a unified Windows community.
What that increase in scope will bring remains to be seen, but the confusion seems to be stemming from the lack of transparency and the use of several blanket statements. Bond used the word “console” in her message, but then focused on Windows, whichcould imply the next Xbox “console” will be a device that can access Windows and any app that is also on Windows, like Steam and Game Pass, as well as offer easy crossplay and choices for consumers when it comes to how they access their games.
Is Next-Gen Xbox A PC, Handheld, Or Both?
Maybe All Of The Above
With several generalizations and not many specifics, a lot of fans are asking if the next “console” is going to be an actual console, a PC, a handheld, or something that blends them all together. That questiondoes not have an easy answer right now. It was previously reported that an additional handheld was in development for Xbox, providing a completely separate experience from the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally line of handhelds. While not confirmed by Xbox or other official sources, it seems like theplanned handheld has been scrappedand its purpose integrated into Xbox’s new plans.
The alleged move away from plans for a proprietary handheld was reported by Tom Warren ofThe Verge, a generally reliable source on industry matters.
With Xbox entering the handheld market this winter, combined with its presence on PC and in the console ecosystem as well, Xbox is seemingly angling tocombine all of its products together to create one ultimate experiencethat can be accessed in several different ways. The details are murky at best, with it being previously reported that Microsoft expected thenext console generation to begin in 2028. Microsoft’s plans may not yet be set in stone, but it’s clear that the next console generation won’t be exactly like ones we’ve seen before.
That release window would put the current generation hardware in line with previous generation life cycles, but now that Xbox has doubled down on Windows and has a new handheld coming soon,it’s possible everything we thought we knew is up in the air. Is the next Xbox a console, a PC, or a handheld? Right now, all the available information seems to be pointing at “all of the above” as a general answer.
Everything To Know About Xbox’s Next-Gen Announcement
Windows & Accessibility-Focused
Bond confirmed in her statement that the deal between Xbox and AMD was “multi-year” and thatXbox and Windows are partnering to make sure Windows is the best place to play, according to Bond. Lisa Su, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of AMD, also put out a video statement onAMD’s official YouTube channel earlier today, saying"AMD and Microsoft are advancing a bold shared vision for the future of gaming, one that enables seamless gameplay across any screen.”
While we don’t have specifics, we do know thatgames will be able to be played across multiple devicesand not be tied to one console, television, or device. Su also shared an emphasis on backwards compatibility, too, for the future of Xbox. It’s worth noting that AMD has had a long partnership with Xbox, having produced gaming-optimized chips for several Xbox consoles, including the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally series, and this partnership has been described as an evolution of this prior relationship.
As far as specifics like pricing, release windows, and all the other desirable information about a new console, it looks like we may be in the dark for a while longer. It’s up in the air exactly what Xbox’s new console is, if it will have multiple iterations like the Series X/S, or if it is indeed a PC and will not hold a “console” label. But with Game Pass and Cloud already a major focus for Xbox, and with Bond and Su both emphasizing playing anywhere, the nextXboxdevice is likely going to be a huge departure from its more traditional console approach.
