In a special episode of the Official Xbox Podcast released Thursday, Microsoft unveiled new insights into its future Xbox hardware strategy, hinting at the next generation of consoles while providing updates on its gaming division. The company announced that four Xbox-exclusive titles would also be available on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, reaffirming its dedication to Xbox hardware and exclusive game development. Sarah Bond, the president of Xbox, emphasized the company’s goal of achieving the “largest technical leap” when introducing the next generation of Xbox consoles.
Bond further indicated that gamers can anticipate new Xbox hardware availability during the upcoming holiday season. This is expected to be a mid-generation refresh of the Xbox Series S and X consoles. “There are exciting developments coming in hardware that we’re eager to share this holiday season. We’re also deeply invested in our roadmap for the next generation,” she stated. “Our focus is on delivering the largest technical advancement you will witness in a console generation,” she added.
Currently, Xbox offers two models: the flagship Xbox Series X and the more affordable, digital-only Xbox Series S.
Last September, leaked court documents from the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust case regarding Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision-Blizzard indicated plans for a mid-generation refresh of the Xbox Series X and S in 2024. The leaked materials also included concept images of the new hardware along with a roadmap for future Xbox releases.
The leaked images revealed that the refresh for the Xbox Series X, codenamed ‘Brooklin,’ will be an all-digital console featuring similar performance and capabilities as its predecessor, but without an optical disc drive. It features a cylindrical design and upgraded 2TB storage and is expected to maintain the current pricing of $499, or Rs. 54,990. According to the documents, ‘Brooklin’ is anticipated to launch in October 2024. Additionally, an upgraded controller is planned, incorporating gyro functionality, haptic feedback, and adaptive triggers akin to Sony’s DualSense controller.
During the podcast, Bond, alongside Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer and Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty, did not provide a specific timeline for the launch of the next-generation Xbox consoles. However, Microsoft’s projections suggest that the new Xbox and PlayStation 6 will debut in 2028, as indicated in the FTC court documents from June last year. The company noted that this timeline would extend beyond the expected launch period of the next console generation, emphasizing that the current generation, comprising the Xbox Series S/X and PlayStation 5, was released in 2020.
