Next-gen Xbox Preview: Everything you need to know about the console and encryption plans

It’s been almost four years since the launch of the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, a pair of gaming consoles that offered players a variety of performance and pricing options. But Microsoft is already thinking about the next big thing in the Xbox space.

Of course, the next generation Xbox Already in developmentBut what’s surprising is that we’ve already heard official details about how Microsoft plans to position it, thanks to a document that was accidentally shared publicly in the FTC’s case against Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision. And there may be a cryptocurrency wallet in the mix.

Moreover, Microsoft has started talking publicly about its upcoming hardware, promising that the next-generation Xbox will have significant performance improvements.

Of course, things may change in the coming months and years, but it turns out that if you’re looking for the latest leaks and reports about the next Xbox console, Microsoft itself is the best possible source. Here’s what we know so far: Stay tuned for future updates.

What is the next generation Xbox?

The next-gen Xbox will be the fifth generation of Microsoft consoles, following the original Xbox (2001), Xbox 360 (2006), Xbox One (2013), and the aforementioned Xbox Series X and Series S (2020) hardware.

Although it was reasonable to assume that Microsoft would continue to create new hardware in the future, We’ve got our first taste of the tech giant’s plans. In September 2023, unredacted documents were uploaded to a public repository for the FTC case. Responsibility for this issue appears to lie with Microsoft, not the courts, and Xbox CEO Phil Spencer Tweeted about the fallout.

“We looked at conversations over old emails and documents,” he wrote. “With so much changing and so much to look forward to now and in the future, it’s hard to see our team’s work shared in this way. “I will share the actual plan when it is ready,” he said.

When will the next generation Xbox be released?

According to a leaked document from Microsoft, the next-generation Xbox will be released in 2028, eight years after the previous console. This is a longer console cycle than Microsoft’s past, with seven years between major hardware releases over the past two cycles.

At this point, five years before the hardware is released, there is no price estimate yet.

How powerful will the next-gen Xbox be?

It’s too early to tell how big a power boost we’ll see in the new Xbox compared to the Xbox Series X, but what’s interesting is how Microsoft is approaching the device.

According to the leaked document, Microsoft is looking at a hybrid model, where games run using both local and cloud computing power. We’ve seen hints of this before. We’ve seen hints of this, particularly in the recent Microsoft Flight Simulator game, which offers cloud-based real-time weather while the game is running on a local PC or Xbox hardware.

But five years from now, Microsoft appears to think it can do this on a larger scale, combining home hardware with augmentations of remote servers as a more standardized hybrid model across Xbox games.

“Our vision is to develop a next-generation hybrid gaming platform that can leverage the combined power of the client and the cloud to deliver deeper immersion and a whole new level of gaming experience,” the Microsoft document reads. “Optimized for real-time gameplay and creators, it will enable new levels of performance that surpass the capabilities of client hardware.”

According to the document, Microsoft has several key hardware decisions to make by the first quarter of 2023, including CPU configurations and how to co-design or license AMD GPUs. It’s still unclear where the company made that choice.

Ultimately, Microsoft wants a device that can handle “next-generation DirectX ray tracing,” “dynamic global illumination,” “micropolygon rendering optimization,” and “machine learning-based super-resolution” for realistic lighting effects.

That said, the next-gen Xbox will definitely be more powerful, although Microsoft is still weighing the details. Or hasn’t it all been leaked yet? The document also outlines different timelines for hardware, games, and software, suggesting a detailed roadmap for the various parts that make up the Xbox experience.

In February 2024, Microsoft made its first public statement about how powerful the next-generation Xbox would be. In an official podcast episode used to announce that Microsoft will begin releasing exclusive Xbox games on Nintendo and PlayStation hardware as well, Xbox president Sara Bond planted the flag in the ground for the next console.

“We are also investing in our next-generation roadmap,” Bond said. eurogamer. “What we’re really focused on is delivering the biggest technological leap we’ve ever seen in a hardware generation.”

At the Xbox Games Showcase on June 9, Bond also confirmed that Microsoft is developing the “next generation” of the Xbox.

Is cryptocurrency involved?

According to a roadmap leaked in May 2022, a cryptocurrency wallet is indeed planned for Microsoft’s next console ecosystem. A slide unintentionally published by Microsoft as part of the FTC case mentions a “cryptocurrency wallet” as part of its commerce stack. Axios We first reported plans for a cryptocurrency wallet.

It’s also been indicated that Microsoft will create its own rather than plugging in a third-party or existing feature, but it’s unclear whether Microsoft will develop the entire wallet itself or simply create an integration that allows users to connect to an existing wallet (e.g. MetaMask) . ).

That’s all we know right now, and Microsoft declined to comment, pointing to Phil Spencer’s aforementioned tweet. It is worth noting that this presentation was made about a week before the cryptocurrency market crash due to the Terra collapse in May 2022. Therefore, it is unclear whether Microsoft has reevaluated its plans amid the ongoing bear market.

What games will be included in the next-gen Xbox?

It’s too early to tell at this point. However, Microsoft has continued to emphasize cross-generational game compatibility through recent console cycles, in line with its PC-like philosophy of being able to play existing games even after purchasing new hardware.

Microsoft has also highlighted its Xbox Game Pass subscription service in recent years, and the leaked document similarly points to expectations that Microsoft will be able to grow its subscription base in the future. Part of this will come through the launch of cloud-based apps for smart TVs, which will further expand the player base.

In any case, Microsoft’s own core franchises like Halo and Forza Motorsport will likely continue to make use of new hardware, along with IP owned by studios like Bethesda (including The Elder Scrolls and Doom) and Activision (Call of Duty, Crash Bandicoot). , the latter of which was acquired last fall.

Will other Xbox hardware be released sooner?

yes! At the Xbox Games Showcase, Microsoft revealed three hardware revisions scheduled for release during the holiday season later this year. 1TB Xbox Series S ($350), all-digital Xbox Series

Interestingly, this isn’t the revision we were expecting, and Microsoft hasn’t commented on the various upgrades that were leaked beforehand. In addition to the next-generation Xbox hardware, Microsoft’s unredacted document for 2023 also lists revised versions of the Xbox Series X and Series S consoles, which are said to be scheduled for release in 2024.

These “mid-generation” hardware revisions were expected to bring some hardware improvements, along with a physical redesign of the Xbox Series X Edition.

The refreshed Xbox Series Unlike the rectangular Series X models currently in use, this version takes a cylindrical approach and ditches the optical disk drive.

However, Microsoft’s design plans have clearly changed. March 27, 2024 stick out We’ve posted leaked photos of a new all-digital Xbox Series Of note, it’s not the cylinder. The Verge The publication reported seeing additional documentation related to the model that led them to believe this was the real deal.

According to a previously leaked document from Microsoft, the “Brooklin” version of the Xbox Series It was. New gamepad with improved tactile feedback, quieter buttons, and motion controls. The revised Xbox Series X was targeted for October 2024 with the same $499 price as the current model.

Meanwhile, the upgraded Xbox Series S, codenamed “Ellewood”, was expected to use the same design as the current model with the same kinds of upgrades, including more storage (1TB), faster Wi-Fi, lower power demands, and improved controllers. . .

However, based on what Microsoft just announced at its showcase, it’s unclear whether the actual revised console will include Wi-Fi, power, and controller upgrades. A revamped console is on the way, so stay tuned for more details.

Editor’s note: This article was first published September 26, 2023, and was last updated with new information on June 9, 2024.