As rumors run rife about the PS5 Pro and its apparent launch this year, Microsoft is moving “full speed ahead” on its next-generation hardware. Windows Central obtained an internal email from Xbox president Sarah Bond stating the same, which Microsoft verified to be genuine. The same email also announced the formation of a team for game preservation.
“We are moving full speed ahead on our next-generation hardware, focused on delivering the biggest technological leap ever in a generation,” she said. This echoes comments from February when Microsoft unveiled its multi-platform strategy for select first-party titles. While Bond has previously stated that the company is “invested in the next-generation roadmap”, she’s also promised some “exciting stuff coming out in hardware that we’re going to share this holiday.”
The latter could be the rumored all-digital Xbox Series X. Leaked images surfaced recently of a white variant with no disc drive, reportedly out between June and July and retailing for $50 to $100 cheaper than the current model. With Microsoft rumored to host its annual Xbox showcase on June 9th, it could announce the new console there.
As for the next-gen Xbox, unredacted internal documents leaked during its trial with the FTC last year, indicating a potential hybrid cloud console. Nothing is official, of course, and it may be a while before an announcement, so stay tuned for updates.
