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- Xbox’s next-gen console is expected to arrive in 2026.
- According to a report, this console will not be designed by the same developers behind the Xbox Series S|X.
- It appears the Microsoft Surface team is handling the new console.
While recent rumors have pointed toward the demise of Xbox’s hardware department, Phil Spencer has supposedly assured Xbox employees that more pieces of hardware would be coming from the gaming giant soon.
However, Microsoft appears to have made a crucial change to its approach. Amid the current rumors, a new report suggests Xbox is handing over control to the Microsoft Surface team, tasking them with creating the next-gen console.
Why it matters: Xbox hasn’t given PlayStation real competition for many years, so it seems like, instead of exiting, the giant is focusing on a different measure.
According to Nick Baker (XboxEra) Jason Ronald, the person responsible for leading development of the Xbox Series X|S hardware, will not be in charge of Microsoft's next gaming device. His team got replaced by Surface team. pic.twitter.com/7UWOnI8Ezl
— Oliver Darko (@oliver_drk) February 11, 2024
Nick Baker briefly talked about this information during the Xbox Era podcast. He stated that Microsoft is not working with Jason Ronald, the lead developer of the Xbox Series S|X, for the new hardware.
Jason Ronald has been with Microsoft for over twenty years, making this a massive shakeup within the company if true. Nick Baker suggests that this job has now been handed over to the Microsoft Surface team.
This could be a much-needed change for Xbox’s hardware department after struggling in this area for two generations in a row. While the Xbox Series X is undoubtedly more capable than the PS5, it is said that the latter is more efficiently designed.
This makes it more developer-friendly, often leading to mixed results despite the clear gap in specifications.
Currently, the Xbox Series S|X have sold around half of what the PS5 has managed in three years on the market. This may have prompted Microsoft to consider a different hardware team for the next generation.
Microsoft Surface devices have used ARM chipsets in the past, so this could open the door for Xbox to pivot away from the traditional AMD-based hardware from the last two generations.
The new console is reportedly set to arrive in 2026. Rumors also suggest that Microsoft will release a handheld alongside a powerful home console in the same year. Both appear to be in the works from the Microsoft Surface team.
Nick has proven to be credible on many occasions, but the current swarm of rumors surrounding Xbox makes it hard to trust recent information. Fortunately, Xbox is set to announce official plans later this week.
On the subject of consoles, Sony is reportedly aiming to create the most powerful next-gen console with the PS6. However, the PS6 might arrive a year or two later than the Xbox hardware.
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[News Editor]
Obaid is pursuing a Law degree while working as a content writer. He has worked as a gaming writer for over three years because of his passion for the medium and reporting the latest updates in the industry. Having played hundreds of games, Obaid finds himself coming back to Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and Red Dead Redemption 2, with these games being among his favorites. He has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as Wccftech, Metro UK, PS Lifestyle, GamePressure, VGC, and Gamespot.
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