Katarzyna Petru
According to reports from Windows Central, Microsoft has already approved plans for a new generation of hardware targeting 2027, however, a key change may concern the production model itself. Increasingly, it seems that the company is considering a shift known from the PC market, where external hardware partners play a significantly larger role. In practice, manufacturers like ASUS could create their own devices bearing the Xbox logo, differing in size, power, and price. In this model, Microsoft would primarily be responsible for the system, platform rules, and software. As a result, Xbox could cease to be a specific console and become a fully-fledged environment for devices operating on a common platform.
Will Windows 11 Become the Heart of Future Xboxes?
As reported by digitaltrends, more and more evidence suggests that Windows 11 is set to become the foundation of future Xbox devices, facilitating the sharing of stores and game libraries between consoles and PCs. A taste of this approach can be seen in the ROG Xbox Ally, a portable device created in collaboration with ASUS, which runs on Windows 11 but defaults to launching in the full-screen Xbox interface. Only by manually switching does the classic desktop become visible, which on one hand offers flexibility, but on the other reveals typical issues known from PCs, such as less intuitive navigation and performance overhead.
According to reports, Microsoft is learning from these limitations and working on a more coherent, “console-like” experience, primarily aimed at controller support before the hardware debut planned for 2027.
A clear point of these changes could be a longer lifespan for the current generation. If new Xbox devices become more expensive and closer to PCs, Xbox Series X and Series S are unlikely to be quickly abandoned. The key will be the freedom to choose the power, price, and form of the device, tailored to individual needs.
source: digitaltrends.com, windowscentral.com
