The next-gen Xbox console is still on the way, despite some thinking that Microsoft may have given up on making its own hardware altogether, with the recent direction things have been taking. That’s the official word from Xbox President and Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Bond, who recently spoke to Mashable in an interview, and confirmed that the next-gen console is still coming.
However, it’s beginning to sound less like a gaming console and more like a gaming PC. Bond’s only semi-detailed statement on the question asking about next-gen hardware doesn’t describe the general idea of what consumers expect when they think about a console. A console is supposed to be a lower-priced gaming platform that, while less powerful than a PC, provides a much more optimized experience. Of course, the main factor to keep in mind is that consoles usually cost less while providing a similar performance experience to PC games. Xbox appears to be shifting gears.
The next-gen Xbox console will be very high-end and very premium
When asked if there was anything Microsoft could share about the next-gen hardware, or if it could speak to rumors that it was going to be more like a gaming PC than a console, Bond stated that Mashable was “right” in some ways with its thinking. While Bond didn’t give specifics, she did say a few things about the upcoming hardware.
“Well, I can tell you you’re right, that the next-gen console is going to be a very premium, very high-end, curated experience,” Bond said. It’s worth noting that she put special emphasis on the word “very” both times she said it. Bond continued by stating that consumers can already start to see some of Microsoft’s vision with the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X. This begs the question. Will the next Xbox console run on Windows with an Xbox Full Screen Experience option? It’s impossible to say right now. Bond says she “doesn’t want to give it all away,” but it seems like the hints are there.
With all this in mind, it seems like the next-gen Xbox won’t be cheap. Lest you forget, the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X is a handheld gaming PC, and it retails for a whopping $1,000. Pair that with Bond’s statement about the next console being “very premium and very high-end,” and gamers may be looking at a notable price increase compared to the Series X.
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