Digital Foundry makes it clear: Xbox hardware is not dead, but the future will be different

The next generation will move forward with new hardware, although with a less traditional vision, but it will be Xbox.

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Over the past few weeks, doubts have resurfaced about the direction of Xbox as a physical platform. Some vague comments from Microsoft have generated confusion among players, leading to speculation that the brand might be abandoning the manufacture of dedicated consoles. However, Digital Foundry has sought to bring clarity with its latest analysis: Xbox hardware is still alive, although its evolution points to a different model than what we knew.

The technical team agrees that Microsoft has not communicated its plans well, generating incorrect interpretations. But they make it clear that a new generation of Xbox consoles is already underway, and the commitment to hardware continues. The difference lies in what that hardware will be and its integration with the Windows ecosystem, moving away from the traditional closed console concept.

The future of Xbox hardware: closer to PC, but with its own identity

According to Digital Foundry, Microsoft has no intention of abandoning the manufacture of physical devices, but the next model will be very different from Xbox Series X. It will be a device that could be defined as a “customized PC for games”, with a dedicated interface and support for backward compatibility, but built on Windows. This change will facilitate development for third parties, reduce costs, and allow for greater flexibility.

• Xbox hardware is not dead: Microsoft is still committed to launching a new console, although it will be very different from the traditional model.

• Poor communication from Microsoft: Vague statements have caused confusion about whether or not there will be new physical consoles.

• The next Xbox will be a hybrid between console and PC: It will run on a Windows base with a customized interface and integrated backward compatibility.

• Very high performance and higher price than current: It will have power similar to a pre-assembled PC, but will cost less than an equivalent one.

• Backward compatibility guaranteed on AMD devices: Thanks to agreements with AMD, old Xbox games could also work on compatible PCs.

• The traditional console loses strength as a model: The future of Xbox moves away from closed hardware and towards flexible devices, similar to certified PCs.

• A more open ecosystem is proposed: Xbox will bet on a unified experience between certified devices, compatible with Game Pass.

• Possible expansion to the portable market: A concept like “Xbox portable” is mentioned as a natural evolution, although it is not officially confirmed.

• Goal: compete with pre-assembled PCs: Microsoft aims to offer a powerful, accessible, and attractive product for those who want to play without configuration complications.

• Xbox as a platform and not just a console: The focus is on offering an Xbox experience in different formats, not necessarily in a single closed machine.

The new console will bet on very high performance, with a price higher than that of a traditional console, but lower than that of a pre-assembled PC with similar specifications. This strategy seeks to compete directly with the computer market, attracting both console and Steam players. Additionally, thanks to the collaboration with AMD, backward compatibility would be ensured even on other devices with compatible chips.

The hybrid model also opens the door to different formats, such as a possible official Xbox portable device, similar to the “X-LIX” concept that has been discussed in forums. Although Digital Foundry acknowledges that there is still no clear solution for an Xbox interface on PC, they see with good eyes an evolution towards a common ecosystem that can scale between different types of certified hardware. All this points to a redefinition of what an Xbox console will be, without implying its disappearance.