Microsoft targets a 2028 launch for next Xbox console
According to a transcript of a May 2022 meeting attended by top Microsoft executives, including CEO Satya Nadella, CFO Amy Hood, and head of gaming Phil Spencer, the expected launch window for the next Xbox console is 2028. This information was revealed as part of Microsoft’s legal battle with the US Federal Trade Commission regarding the proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
During the meeting, there was a discussion about whether the next Xbox console would move away from fixed hardware specifications. Anuj Gosalia, corporate vice president of immersive experiences, pointed out that consoles have provided a clear platform target for developers. Another executive asked if the plan for 2028 was to maintain the current model or adopt a more flexible approach like Windows. Kevin Gammill, corporate vice president of gaming ecosystems, responded by stating that they have already started this journey with Xbox One and Xbox One X, and they aim to be even more flexible with future generations while still allowing creators to take advantage of unique hardware capabilities.
In previous statements made to the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority, Microsoft lawyers stated that the next new generation of consoles is not expected to be released before the fall of 2028. Both Microsoft and Sony launched their current-gen consoles (Xbox Series X/S and PS5) in November 2020. However, due to supply issues caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, any planned mid-cycle hardware refreshes may have been affected.
Xbox boss Phil Spencer has expressed that a mid-cycle upgrade for Series X is not a priority for Microsoft. He believes that introducing frequent hardware upgrades creates complexity for developers and players and may not be beneficial. He stated that they are currently at the end of the beginning of the current console cycle and want to allow developers to fully utilize the current hardware.
In July, Microsoft mentioned in legal documents that they expected Sony to launch a PS5 Pro console.
