Everything we know about the new Xbox console: date, compatibility, AI and more

This is all you need to know about the new generation of Xbox and its new 2026 console.

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The new generation of Xbox consoles is already underway, and everything points to it being the most ambitious to date. Although there are no officially confirmed specifications, recent statements from Sarah Bond (Xbox president) and Jack Huynh (AMD executive), combined with the announcement of a strategic alliance between the two companies, suggest a clear direction: Xbox wants to create an open, powerful, retrocompatible, and multiplatform platform, designed to function as a real bridge between console and PC.

Microsoft is not just preparing a technical leap. What is emerging is a profound transformation of the Xbox ecosystem. The focus is no longer on a single console, but on a flexible and accessible platform from multiple devices, including console, PC, cloud, and portable hardware. All this, without breaking with the past: your current game library will remain compatible, ensuring a smooth and respectful transition for the player.

A console with hybrid architecture and a PC heart

One of the most interesting aspects is that the future Xbox console could be designed to run both console and PC games natively. Microsoft is already working on translation layers that would allow Xbox games to run directly on Windows, without emulation. If this materializes, we would be facing a hybrid device with shared architecture between console and PC, opening up new possibilities for development, performance, and accessibility.

The key lies in Microsoft’s absolute control over its own hardware and operating system. Without depending on third parties, it can integrate these compatibility solutions in a legal and technical way without restrictions. This would allow players to move freely between platforms, with their games, progress, and purchases accessible from any Xbox-compatible device.

The alliance with AMD: AI, cutting-edge graphics, and custom chips

This major evolutionary leap will be possible thanks to a strategic agreement with AMD, which will participate in the joint design of the chips that will bring the new generation of Xbox to life. According to Sarah Bond’s words, the goal is to offer “ever-improving visual quality, a more immersive gaming experience, and new forms of interaction driven by artificial intelligence”.

The new Xbox is expected to include native support for real-time AI, advanced ray tracing, and cutting-edge technologies, without sacrificing efficiency. The use of custom chips would allow for maximum utilization of system resources, ensuring optimal performance in all scenarios, whether on traditional console, cloud, or portable devices.

An ecosystem without barriers: multiplatform, retrocompatible, and no exclusive store

Another fundamental pillar of this new generation will be freedom. Microsoft does not want the player to be tied to a specific device or store. Therefore, the future Xbox will not be limited to a single digital store, opening up the possibility of purchasing games from different platforms without compromising the experience.

• In addition, total retrocompatibility with the current Xbox library will be maintained, a commitment that Microsoft has reinforced in each of its recent statements. This means that all the games you own — whether they are from Xbox One, Xbox Series, or even retrocompatible games from 360 and the original Xbox — will remain available on the new devices, something that reinforces the vision of Xbox as a durable and player-centric ecosystem.

A theory that is becoming increasingly solid: the new Xbox as a universal platform

• Everything exposed so far fuels a theory that is becoming increasingly plausible: the next Xbox will be a universal platform that coexists in multiple formats. Home consoles, portable devices, cloud gaming, and Windows computers will share a common technical environment, capable of running the same titles and accessing the same user account without barriers.

Sarah Bond has been clear: “We want you to play what you want, with whom you want, and where you want”. This phrase summarizes the design philosophy that Microsoft is applying to its new hardware line. It’s not about competing with just one more powerful console, but about building a coherent, open, and scalable ecosystem, prepared to adapt to the player in any situation.

• This approach also includes a closer collaboration with Windows, with the intention of consolidating it as the primary gaming platform of the future. If Xbox and Windows are unified at a functional level, the differences between what we consider a “console game” and a “PC game” will disappear.

When will the new Xbox arrive?

Although no exact date has been confirmed, everything points to 2026 as the year we might see the first official preview of this new generation. Development is already underway, the collaboration with AMD is active, and the roadmap seems clear. Meanwhile, Microsoft continues to strengthen its presence with devices like the ROG Xbox Ally, the expanding Game Pass, and its firm commitment to the cloud.

Facing the movements of Sony and its supposed PlayStation 6 (also developed with AMD), and a Nintendo that is already working with NVIDIA on Switch 2 and DLSS technology, Microsoft seeks to differentiate itself with a more open and player-focused proposal, instead of closing itself off to a closed device.

A new chapter for Xbox

The new generation of Xbox will not simply be a successor to Xbox Series: it will be the beginning of a new era in the history of the brand, one where the player is at the center, compatibility is total, and access freedom is the norm.

Sarah Bond:

At Xbox, our vision is that you can play what you want, with whom you want, and where you want. That’s why we’re investing in the next generation of hardware that spans consoles, PC, cloud, and accessories. I’m pleased to announce that we’ve established a strategic alliance with AMD to shape the future of silicon in gaming. This collaboration covers both living room devices and mobility, and will allow us to advance in graphics innovation, visual quality, and immersive experiences, all while maintaining compatibility with your current Xbox game library.

Our goal is to build a gaming platform that’s always with you, allowing you to enjoy your titles on multiple devices without restrictions. We want to offer an Xbox experience that’s not limited to a single store or tied to a single device, and that’s why we’re working closely with Windows to make it the number one gaming platform. The next generation of Xbox is already taking shape, and this is just the beginning. We’re excited to show you what’s coming.

Sarah Bond summed it up: “This is just the beginning. We can’t wait to show you what’s next”. And if everything that has been revealed so far is confirmed, the future of Xbox will be more powerful, more open, and more intelligent than ever.

What you need to know now about the new Xbox in 20 points

• The next Xbox is already in development and will be the result of a close collaboration between Microsoft and AMD.

• It won’t be a simple technical successor, but a profound change in the concept of a console.

• It will allow Xbox games to run directly on Windows thanks to new integrated translation layers.

• It will have total retrocompatibility with the entire current Xbox library: One, Series, 360, and classic games.

• It will function as a bridge between console and PC, eliminating barriers between both ecosystems.

• Microsoft wants you to play where you want, whether on console, PC, cloud, or even portable devices.

• It won’t be limited to a single digital store, opening up the possibility of purchasing games from different platforms.

• AI will play a key role, integrating in real-time within the hardware to enhance the experience.

• The new console will use custom chips designed with AMD, focusing on graphics performance and efficiency.

• Sarah Bond has made it clear that Xbox doesn’t want to tie you to a single device or format.

• A much superior visual quality is expected, with advanced support for ray tracing and emerging technologies.

• Windows will be consolidated as the central platform for gaming, and Xbox will be part of that vision.

• The focus will be multiplatform from the base design, making cross-play and shared services easier.

• The Game Pass will remain a fundamental pillar, with this entire ecosystem connected to it.

• The philosophy is clear: freedom, compatibility, and access without barriers.

• There is no official date, but everything points to 2026 as the year we might see the first preview.

• This is the most ambitious move in Xbox history, with a long-term view.

• The announcement comes in a competitive context, with Sony working with AMD on PS6 and Nintendo with NVIDIA for Switch 2.

• Everything revolves around the player, not the device, as Bond and Huynh insisted.

• As Sarah Bond said: “This is just the beginning”… and, truthfully, it sounds like the best is yet to come.