The Xbox podcast update revealed a wealth of information for fans eagerly anticipating Microsoft's future in the gaming industry, with Xbox President Sarah Bond not only confirming the company is working on a next-gen console but promising it will be the "largest technical leap ever."
Despite revealing that four unannounced titles will be coming to other platforms, Xbox isn't leaving the hardware market any time soon, with ambitious plans for their next-gen offerings.
In the short term, Bond also hinted that Xbox has a mid-generation console upgrade planned, with full details set to be revealed at a later date this year.
There’s some exciting stuff coming out in hardware that we’re going to share this holiday. We’re also invested in the next-generation roadmap. What we’re really focused on there is delivering the largest technical leap you will have ever seen in a hardware generation
Bond did not provide any specifics about the technical advancement that could potentially be hailed as the biggest advancement in gaming hardware history. However, it is a positive indication for Xbox enthusiasts that the corporation is not completely bowing out of the console market.
During an interview with The Verge, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer expressed his excitement for the company's future and his love for handheld gaming devices but warned people to remain cautious about getting too excited for a potential Xbox handheld to compete with the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation Portal.
We see a lot of opportunity in different types of devices, and will share specifics on our future hardware plans as soon as we are ready. I’m a big fan [of handhelds], but nothing to announce
There have been leaks regarding a mid-generation Series X console refresh that has been circulating for a few months now stemmed from FTC documents that went public during a court hearing involving Microsoft. It revealed there are three all-digital consoles planned for release in 2024.
Xbox's next-gen plans were also leaked, suggesting their Series S/X follow-up will launch in 2028, featuring cloud-hybrid games as one of the core features.
The ball is on Xbox's court now, and it's only a matter of time before they officially lift the curtain on their console plans in the near future.