New Xbox console out this year as Microsoft boast of ‘largest technical leap’ for next gen
What is rumoured to be a redesigned Xbox Series X and a brand new controller are due out this autumn, as Xbox fuels discuss of a next gen in 2026.
Microsoft has lastly commented on long-standing rumours of it bringing sure Xbox exclusives to rival codecs, with affirmation of 4 unnamed titles arriving this year.
Its causes for not say what they’re (it’s blatantly Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, Sea Of Thieves, and Grounded) make little sense however Microsoft has been barely extra forthcoming about its {hardware} – within the sense that it selected to deliver up challenge unbidden.
Although the rumours about video games going multiformat have been lighting up headlines for over a month now a number of sources have additionally talked a few new era of consoles in 2026, together with a Switch fashion hybrid console.
Microsoft didn’t verify any particular plans, however Xbox president Sarah Bond said that: ‘We’re additionally invested within the next era roadmap and what we’re actually targeted on there may be delivering the biggest technical leap you’ve ever seen in a {hardware} era.’
That appears a really tough promise to maintain, given the diminishing graphical enhancements seen in latest generations, however whereas she gave no indication of when precisely the brand new consoles can be launched the mere reality she’s speaking about them now suggests they’re in all probability not more than two or three years away.
That would line up with the concept the present era has peaked in phrases of console gross sales, with Sony reporting this week that it expects to promote much less PlayStation 5s in 2025 than in 2024. Xbox Series X/S gross sales have been underperforming all era, so for that purpose alone it might make sense for Xbox to need to clear the desk and begin once more.
The next gen Xbox rumours had advised a standard house console mannequin and a Switch fashion hybrid system and whereas none of the assembled Xbox execs talked about that through the podcast, Spencer did nothing to dissuade the notion when interviewed by The Verge.
‘I’m a giant fan of handhelds,’ he mentioned when requested why he retains liking tweets speaking about Xbox portables. ‘I’m a giant fan, however nothing to announce.’
He then added: ‘We’re type of studying from what Nintendo has performed over time with Switch, they’ve been improbable with that. So once I take a look at Steam Deck and the ROG and my Legion Go, I’m a giant fan of that house.’
All of which appears about as unsubtle a clue as you could possibly get, that the rumours are considerably true.
The one factor that wasn’t rumoured was the thought of new {hardware} this year, though Microsoft themselves already managed to leak that final year, by by chance making categorized paperwork public throughout their court docket case with the Federal Trade Commission – paperwork which additionally hinted on the newly rumoured hybrid system.
These included a brand new controller, with haptic suggestions much like the PlayStation 5’s DualSense, and a redesign of the Xbox Series X in a brand new cylindrical kind with no disc drive – a redesigned Xbox Series S was talked about however not pictured.
Speaking to The Verge, Spencer pretended to not know concerning the leaks, although on the time he tried to dismiss them as ‘old’ and never their ‘real plans’ however, as appears much more apparent now, that’s clearly not true. At least in phrases of the fundamental particulars.
Officially, all Bond promised was ‘more console and controller options’ this ‘holiday’ however even as imprecise as that’s, it matches up completely with the FTC leaks.
Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, go away a remark under, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our publication.
MORE : Four Xbox exclusives going multiformat however Microsoft gained’t say which (it’s straightforward to guess)
MORE : ‘Every screen is an Xbox’ Microsoft tells workers forward of podcast
MORE : Xbox hybrid moveable console hinted at by Phil Spencer on Twitter
Follow Metro Gaming on Twitter and electronic mail us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk
To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features extra simply, with out the necessity to ship an electronic mail, simply use our Submit Stuff web page right here.
For extra tales like this, test our Gaming web page.
Sign as much as all of the unique gaming content material, newest releases earlier than they’re seen on the location.
Privacy Policy »
This web site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
