In a surprising leak of confidential court documents from the ongoing FTC v. Microsoft case, plans for Microsoft’s next Xbox console have come to light, with a slated release date set for the year 2028.
The newly surfaced documents provide a glimpse into a presentation outlining Microsoft’s ambitious vision for what they are calling “the next generation of gaming at Microsoft.” According to reports from The Verge, one of the presentation slides articulates this vision, stating, “Our vision: develop a next-generation hybrid game platform capable of leveraging the combined power of the client and cloud to deliver deeper immersion and entirely new classes of game experiences.”
The presentation underscores a commitment to optimizing real-time gameplay and empowering creators to unlock performance levels that extend beyond the limits of client hardware alone.
Further insights into the console’s specifications are revealed within the slides. “Forward compatibility” emerges as a pivotal aspect of Microsoft’s strategic decisions, complemented by an ARM64 CPU, an AMD GPU, and a notable focus on “next-gen DirectX ray tracing.”
The presentation materials, dated May 2022, also suggest Microsoft’s intent to support “Cloud hybrid games,” positioning the console as an immersive game and app platform. Intriguingly, there’s a reference to a “thin OS” tailored for sub-$99 “consumer or handheld devices,” hinting at a potential for handheld gaming experiences, possibly allowing games to be seamlessly played through Microsoft’s Cloud platform.
A roadmap outlined in a graphic within the presentation hints at a journey already in progress. Hardware design plans are slated to commence in 2024, with the first developer kits anticipated to arrive in 2027. The timeline foresees the production of the first hybrid cloud games starting from 2024 and continuing through to 2026, suggesting a comprehensive and ambitious approach to the future of gaming at Microsoft.
These revelations have ignited excitement among gaming enthusiasts, as they eagerly await the evolution of the Xbox console ecosystem, set to redefine the gaming experience in 2028 and beyond.
