More Next-Gen Xbox Plans Revealed

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More Next-Gen Xbox Plans Revealed

Highlights

  • Two distinct new Xbox devices are rumored: a traditional home console and a dedicated Xbox handheld.
  • While there are concerns about Microsoft’s hardware sales, the company seems committed to creating new hardware.

As a lifelong gamer with memories of lugging around my Game Boy Advance SP during lunch breaks at school and staying up late to play my Xbox 360, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nostalgia at the rumors of Microsoft’s next-gen Xbox plans. If the reports are true and we’re getting not one, but two new Xbox consoles in the near future – a traditional home console and an Xbox handheld – it feels like a dream come true!

It appears that Microsoft might be preparing to launch both a portable Xbox console, which has been the subject of much speculation, and a new home console – potentially a successor to the Series X. Despite concerns that Microsoft could be stepping away from its hardware division, executives have confirmed that they are indeed working on next-generation hardware. They’ve remained tight-lipped about their specific plans for the next-gen Xbox, given that we’re still in the early stages of this current console generation.

Microsoft introduced two different versions of their latest gaming console, the Xbox Series X and the cheaper Xbox Series S. Both consoles can play the same games, but the Series X offers superior graphics and performance compared to the Series S, which makes some compromises in these areas. It appears that Microsoft will carry on this approach with their upcoming generation of Xbox, although there are rumors about an Xbox handheld device that could potentially replace the Series S.

Clearing up confusion about the next-generation Xbox being a handheld, insider Jez Corden clarified that the next-gen Xbox handheld would exist alongside a Series X successor. “It’s gonna be two different things. They’re not just gonna try to go all in on handheld only,” Corden said on the Xbox Two podcast (as reported by Pure Xbox). Considering how popular handheld devices like the Switch, Steam Deck, and even the PlayStation Portal have been, it would make a great deal of sense for Microsoft to pursue the market, though this seems to indicate it won’t be doing so at the expense of its traditional home console efforts, as some have worried. Previous reports and rumors have pointed to the next-generation Xbox consoles releasing in 2026 or thereabouts, though it’s unclear if the Xbox handheld will come sooner than the traditional home console. The devices may be more “separate” than the Xbox Series X and S, which could mean that they have a staggered release, but that’s just speculation at this time.

Rumored Next-Gen Xbox Plans

  • Traditional home console
  • Dedicated Xbox handheld
  • Rumored to be releasing in 2026

It’s well-known that the sales of Xbox hardware have been significantly lower than those of the PlayStation 5, raising questions about how long Microsoft will keep producing new Xbox consoles. Despite its recent spree of buying studios to enhance its game offerings, Microsoft doesn’t hesitate to release its games on rival platforms. In fact, some former Xbox exclusives have already been available on the PS5 and Switch within the past year, and it’s likely that more might follow suit.

There’s been talk that “Gears of War: E-Day” could potentially release on PS5, and whispers hint that even “Halo” might not be entirely immune to Microsoft’s multiplatform strategy, though no formal announcements to this effect have been made yet. Xbox gamers do have valid worries about Microsoft’s future strategies, but it appears they can take comfort in the fact that there will likely be another generation of Xbox consoles, consisting of both a traditional home console and a portable device designed specifically for handheld use.

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2024-08-07 18:33