Microsoft has reaffirmed its plans for next-gen hardware with Xbox president Sarah Bond even calling it a “very premium, very high-end” console. However, with the company collaborating with Asus for the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X, it’s perhaps not shocking that the next Xbox will borrow many fundamentals of the handheld.
According to sources speaking to Jez Corden of Windows Central, the console will run “full-bore Windows, with a TV-optimized, console-style experience layered on top.” The Xbox Full Screen Experience will be the default, allowing players to exit to Windows to access other platforms, including Steam, Battle.net, and even applications like Microsoft Office.
However, as Corden notes, “The onboarding experience will be similar to what you get today on console, and if you choose, you can remain fully inside the Xbox ecosystem, never touching Windows itself. Exiting out to Windows will be for those who want to access games traditionally not available on Xbox, including PlayStation games on Steam, mouse and keyboard-first games like League of Legends, or even classic games from GOG and the like.”
This allegedly goes even further with the next-gen Xbox capable of accessing “decades upon decades of content all on a single device.” It will even support Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox One titles through backwards compatibility. You can also expect Auto Super Resolution and Frame Gen to improve existing Series X/S titles (though native versions for the next Xbox are also planned).
The idea is compelling enough, streamlining PC gaming and eliminating issues like shader compilation. The question now is whether the price is appealing to an audience that wants the freedom of accessing their entire PC and Xbox library in a living room set-up.
