The rumor mill surrounding the next Xbox continues to churn, although the console has not even been officially announced yet. According to a well-connected insider, the launch has already been postponed internally and the next Xbox will be released in 2027 rather than 2026. Even more explosive: The next Xbox will no longer be a classic console, but a PC in console format.
A PC with Xbox branding?
According to Corden, the new Xbox will be heavily based on Windows and offer developers a standardized set of specifications. This means that games will always be developed for the PC, but with a fixed hardware base that can be optimized for. This would eliminate the need for traditional devkits, as Microsoft would be able to provide studios with the final specifications in advance.
This strategy would enable seamless integration between Xbox and PC, which could make Game Pass in particular even more attractive.
No devkit in sight – doubts about 2026 launch
Earlier this week, there were reports that the next Call of Dutywhich is planned for 2026, could already appear on the new Xbox. This would suggest that Microsoft’s new hardware is already well advanced. According to Corden, however, this is not the case.
In the Xbox Two podcast explained he: “The idea that developers have already received devkits is simply not true. The next Xbox is Windows-based and will essentially be a PC with a TV-friendly shell.”
This means that developers do not have to work with special devkits, but can work directly with the final specifications.
Microsoft’s new strategy – inspired by Steam Deck?
The success of the Steam Deck shows that gamers appreciate more flexible hardware that can be used both mobile and stationary. Microsoft could go in a similar direction with the next Xbox: A fixed hardware set that nevertheless relies on the advantages of the PC platform.
With a later release in 2027, Microsoft would also be aligning itself with traditional console cycles. The Xbox Series X/S was launched in 2020 – seven years later would therefore be a logical time for a successor. At the same time, a launch close to the PS6 certainly also something that developers would welcome in order to maintain a certain technical parity.
But the biggest question remains: Will the next Xbox still be a “console” at all, or will Microsoft go the full PC route? The next few months could provide more clarity here.
