Microsoft says it is already developing successor Xbox consoles, though the company cautions those new devices are still years away from any public release. The confirmation came during a press presentation this Thursday, March 10, when a senior executive described ongoing internal hardware and platform work alongside continued focus on expanding Xbox across devices.
Company confirms next-generation hardware is in development
“We are already working hard on new hardware and new platforms, some that will not see the light of day for a while,” said Liz Hamren, Vice President of Games and Platforms at Microsoft. She emphasized that while the company builds future systems, it remains committed to extending the Xbox experience to additional devices.
The announcement follows the global launch of the Xbox Series X and S in late November 2020. Microsoft noted that it is common for console makers to begin work on successors soon after a launch because of the lengthy multi-year development cycles required to reach acceptable performance and quality standards.
Microsoft rejects idea that consoles are obsolete
Amid questions about whether streaming could make dedicated consoles obsolete, Hamren pushed back on that suggestion. She pointed to continued Microsoft support for older hardware such as the Xbox One S, released in 2013, which still receives exclusive games.
“While we expand gameplay to PC and mobile devices, the console remains our primary experience,” Hamren said. “We want to deliver the most powerful and capable consoles in the world, devices that enable our players to enjoy incredible games for many years, including gameplay we can’t yet imagine.”
Focus for now: Game Pass and the cloud
The company reiterated that its immediate priority is growing Game Pass. Microsoft pledged to deliver “a big exclusive game every three months throughout the year,” and described cloud technology as central to its hardware and service strategy.
“The cloud will allow us to remove barriers to play around the world. There is still a place for consoles and PCs, and frankly, there always will be. But through the cloud, we can offer a robust experience to anyone connected to the internet, even on lower-powered, less expensive devices that people already own,” Hamren explained. “With games in the cloud, players can participate fully in the same Xbox experience as those on local hardware.”
Game Pass driving service revenue growth, Microsoft says
Tim Stuart, Xbox Chief Financial Officer, noted that content and services revenue for Xbox continues to “grow strongly” thanks to Game Pass. He added that sustaining that growth requires expanding the audience beyond traditional console users into new demographics and geographies, and providing clear value so customers choose to spend with Microsoft.
Game Pass currently offers dozens of games, including multiple Microsoft exclusives and EA titles through EA Play, which is included with the Ultimate tier. The subscription service is available on Xbox consoles, PC, and mobile devices via internet connection.
Source: Eurogamer
Have you watched our videos on YouTube?
