Xbox President Sarah Bond on the future of Xbox

New Xbox hardware.

New team dedicated to game preservation and forward compatibility.

Diablo IV on Gamepass.

[Obscure_Observer]

Hell yeah!!!

My favorite quote:

"Per emails received by Windows Central, confirmed by Microsoft as genuine, Xbox President Sarah Bond recently briefed her team on various topics.

In the emails, Sarah Bond reiterated Microsoft's plans to build new Xbox hardware focused on delivering "the biggest technical leap ever in a generation."

Way to go, Sarah!

Just focus and give us a full blown next gen system!

[EasilyTheBest]

Definitely think the Next Xbox is going to come a lot earlier than is expected. I also see Microsoft having new light versions of Windows 11 for Handhelds & for Consoles.
Could Microsoft do away with the 30% they get from 3rd party games going into the store & just have the whole system open like PC? Plus have any store be available there & just concentrate on Gamepass Subs.
Could be huge.

[Extermin8or3_]

So basically they'll abandon Xbox hardware and start selling premade PC's yeah I could see that.

[VenomUK]

@Obscure_Observe Do not think that new hardware means that everything is okay with Xbox. When Steve Ballmer was head of Microsoft he kept the MS Office apps exclusive to Microsoft's Surface tablets. When Satya Nadella took over he made the software multi-platform and it was released on iOS/iPad OS and it reached a massive audience generated huge profits from subs. Microsoft still makes new Surface products but it's clear that the Apple and Android ecosystems are more valuable to it.

It seems clear that Nadella wants to do the same with Microsoft first-party games. New first-party games will go multi-format and eventually be released day and date with other console platforms including Switch 2, PS5 and Android. Call of Duty and Starfield and Elder Scrolls VI being released on PlayStation and Nintendo will have a natural home on them and because customers are paying money to access these games and have a larger install base than Xbox, Microsoft will come to value them more.

Yes Microsoft will make new Xbox hardware for the enthusiasts who prefer Microsoft products, in the same way there are those people who will choose Surface tablets over iPads and Galaxy tablets, but it's focus will remain the third party platforms with the largest user bases.

When Sega exited the hardware market it made an official announcement and the message was clear to everyone. Microsoft is moving its focus to becoming a third-party games software publisher but it cannot make such an announcement because it will cause a PR backlash and damage the credibility of Phil Spencer. So instead Microsoft IS doing it but by a series of smaller 'pivoted' steps. Make no mistake, this is already happening.

[crazyCoconuts]

Biggest leap ever and forward compatibility doesn't make it sound like a traditional console. Forward compatibility means they will do something that allows Xbox games to run on future hardware. If we think current Xbox games, I think that means abstracting all the bits and pieces that are Xbox hardware specific (like hardware decoders, sound chips, etc.) into software (like an emulator) so that it can run on non-Xbox hardware like a PC. Maybe even Nvidia, which is where the "leap" would come from. I still think we're talking about a PC with some capability to run the existing XSX games on it if they can figure that out.

[rippermcrip]

Most would Microsoft gain by abandoning the 30%? That's literally the only way they make money from third party games.

[PhillyDonJawn]

That would be a shot in foot. MS makes a boatload off 3rd party. Why the hell would they do that?

[jwillj2k4]

Systems have never been the problem you’re letting them do the same bait and switch over and over again. This will be the third time for them tricking their fan base into thinking powa will solve their game quality problems.

[Profchaos]

Why though when nothing has truly pushed the current gen system

[Obscure_Observer]

"Why though when nothing has truly pushed the current gen system"

Hellblade II will raise the bar to a whole new level and it obviously push the Series consoles to the limit.

We already heard from Shinobi that Gears of War 6 will push that bar even further.

Not to mention the upcoming Fable and both Clockwork Revolution and State of Decay 3 also powered by UE5.

I´m 100% positive that will see the Xbox Series X realizing it´s full potential before the next gen Xbox drops.

Not sure about the PS5 and all that PS5 Pro nonsense, though.

[mkis007]

I think there is a market for this. Abandon the low end and just make a high tier console target $700-$800 Id buy it on 3rd party alone if one existed. It would save me money on pc building if I could get a targeted high end console like that. PS and nintendo has the mainstream on lock adults and younger crowd respectively and with xbox games on ps it makes no sense to compete in the same hardware space as either of them. Why not go for a higher tier no one else is competing in? Dont sell at a loss, but still reap the cost savings that is mass production of a single sku.

[anast]

A streaming box or a mobile device

[S2Killinit]

Question is do most people care anymore?

[Redgrave]

It is buzzwords galore, MS hasn't ever been particularly forthcoming or honest in their time.

Excitement is one thing, but even the most stalwart should have cause for worry instead of blind devotion.

If you recall, the XSX was supposed to be the most powerful console ever. Where exactly has it displayed that in leaps and bounds over the competition?
The PS5 hasn't even done that.

This entire generation has essentially been a "pro" improvement over the one before it on both sides. That, and of course they will state it as 'the most powerful/technical leap/life changing" thing because they certainly wouldn't downplay their efforts or admit mediocrity. The same will likely be said for the PS6 and so on.

Set the kool-aid down and try some critical thinking for once.

[-Foxtrot]

But you have a full blown next gen system, the worlds most powerful console and MS has done f*** all with it because of parity rules with the Series S

The same will happen next gen

The Series S is doing better in sales than the Series X so MS is obviously going to do something similar again, then we’ll be in the same situation as now

MS are doing powerful consoles for show basically, to use in marketing and to one up the competition but they don’t take advantage so what’s the point.

[Lightning77]

"the worlds most powerful console and MS has done f*** all with it because of parity rules with the Series S"

That's not at all the reason. Hasn't it occurred to you we've been stuck on cross gen games this whole time? What, new super power has any of these consoles shown this gen?

[Obscure_Observer]

"The Series S is doing better in sales than the Series X so MS is obviously going to do something similar again, then we’ll be in the same situation as now"

I don´t think so.

I believe Microsoft will release just one powerful next gen console. The other one will likely some Xbox handheld as a companion console to play on the go which relies on cloud gaming.

"MS are doing powerful consoles for show basically, to use in marketing and to one up the competition but they don’t take advantage so what’s the point."

There´s no first party nearly impressive as Hellblade II on PS5 as of now, despite the fact that there´s no "PS5 S" to hold it back.

If Shinobi is anyone to trust, Gears 6 will be even more impressive than Hellblade II. So one can only wonder when Sony will ever realize the PS5´s potential with all that PS5 Pro nonsense that even developers think that´s unnecessary.

[Obscure_Observer]

@VenomUK

"Do not think that new hardware means that everything is okay with Xbox"

They´re obviously doing very well. The division is making tons of money, because that money isn´t just made out of the Xbox consoles but the whole Xbox ecosystem as a whole. The Xbox division has its games spread out across PC, Steam Deck, Nintendo, Playstation, Tvs, Mobile and now, multiple streaming services across the globe.

You were expecting Xbox to leave the console market to become a third party for Sony and Nintendo. Well, tough luck.

A brand new next gen Xbox console is in development and your expectations of playing Xbox first party games on your Playstation is now officially back in the line of hopes and dreams until further official notice.

it is what is.

@crazyCoconuts

"Biggest leap ever and forward compatibility doesn't make it sound like a traditional console."

You´re late to the party, dude

https://venturebeat.com/gam...

[Cockney]

That leap is to cloud! I think we all know this deep down no matter the spin

[ChasterMies]

“Way to go, Sarah!”

Yes! Way to say something. Just amazing. I wonder what she said about where to go for dinner.

[Zeref]

I wonder if this means that the future handheld will support all Xbox games

[Obscure_Observer]

I think the handheld will support Xbox games via cloud.

[purple101]

Wow “Forward compatibility”

That means, they’re already thinking of leaving the series X/S fanbase behind or it would have said back compat

[Obscure_Observer]

"That means, they’re already thinking of leaving the series X/S fanbase behind or it would have said back compat"

Jesus Christ

(hard facepalm)

[Sonic1881]

"Thinking of leaving the series X/S fanbase behind"

Lol We all knew that was going to happen

[jwillj2k4]

@Tuhorobah not much to leave behind this generations been f*cking trash across the board.

[S2Killinit]

@jwillj2k4
The consumer is what will be left behind. People that believed MS and bought into their promises…

[Profchaos]

I think it just means they want to ensure that Xbox series games will run on the next box.

Be a pr nightmare if the ditched Xbox series consoles so early on their lifetime and stuffed up back compatibility

[MrBaskerville]

Might take the opporyunity to kill off the older forza games. People can still play Forza 5-7 and I'm not sure Microsoft enjoys that, delisted them ages ago. Now they can finally kill them off for good.

[DivineHand125]

I would like to know what goggles you are wearing or what dictionary you are using to get that from forward compatibility.

Forward compatibility simply means they are developing their games in a way to ensures it will also work on future hardware. That way they don't have to put too much resources into making them backwards compatible when the next generation comes around.

This is a term that has been used in IT for over a decade.

[darthv72]

...wouldnt that mean you carry your games forward to the next system?

[Lightning77]

Yes but ppl are extremely dense around here.... Ad you know.

[Tacoboto]

How on earth do you get that from what she said?

If anything that gives the *most* assurance that they're going to best support current hardware and software for it and playable on it

[PhillyDonJawn]

Lmao, comprehension is key. This mean Series user will be able to play the next gen games. This will most likely be cloud. Where series consoles hardware will run the games and have cloud to carry the load where it fall short.

[Zeref]

Well yeah. That's how console generations work lol.

[TriniOutsider]

Let's see how many people fall for this. Wasn't Series X supposed to be the most powerful console out right now? What happened with all that talk?

Funny watching those running Xbox spin their usual nonsense. Then someone else from Microsoft is gonna come and say something different.

[S2Killinit]

the PS5 PRO can also claim “the biggest leapt” as it will be 33.5 teraflops.

The PS6 will be the console to own down the line, so Im not even registering what xbox will be coming and when because nothing MS says would convince me to buy their system.

[MagUk]

I’ve got 8k ready on the side of my PS5 box I’m still waiting for that 🧐 I’ll don’t believe the pro will be as powerful as they claim.

[S2Killinit]

Well, It will be powerful. How powerful depends on what they actually do with it.

[CobraKai]

I think we will never see a leap like SNES to PS1 and PS1 to PS2. Whatever technical leap they’re talking about will probably have to do with streaming or cloud gaming

[Einhander1972]

This is just B.S. propaganda to get ahead of the negative press from their upcoming digital only series x and the complete loss of any disk based options when both s and x are digital only.

How are you going to preserve games when you can't stick any disks in the console?

And this is such an obvious con coming from the company that has pushed for digital only subscriptions and streaming harder and for longer than anyone else, this is the company that wanted to tie disks to your account to prevent resale and game trading.

I guess they can preserve their games by making disk versions for PlayStation.

Anyone remember when Microsoft deleted all of xblig removing access to hundreds of games people purchased?

[raWfodog]

Hopefully they won’t split the performance base like they did with the Series S and X. I honestly think they hobbled themselves with that decision. Devs could have gotten a lot more out of the X if they didn’t have to worry about feature parity with the S.

[andy85]

I don't understand this obsession with having the most powerful hardware when it's not wanted by many. Software sells consoles not power. "Biggest technical leap seen in a generation". It sounds pricey...who is it for? The full fat current gen Xbox was far outsold by the entry level model. I really don't understand their strategy, it should be to get as many bodies on to GP as possible. Not making consoles for the minority

[Chevalier]

Exactly 💯. Xbox strategy is absolutely terrible. They hamstrung developers for 4 years to have to waste money for parity for the Series S and their sales have literally fallen behind the Xbox One even and shows signs of doing even worse this year. Now they want developers to make basically 3 versions between the S/X and whatever this new system is? Genius. Especially when developers have been wondering why they even release game on Xbox. If the rumour that they also will make a handheld then they will be spread thin. They're so lost right now and so unfocused.

[Skuletor]

You're forgetting they also develop their games for PC, which itself has various hardware configurations they'd have to cater for, so that would be 4 versions to deal with .

[Extermin8or3_]

By all accounts they are late signing contracts with amd, behind Sony who did so years ago but want to try and launch a year before. If they achieve that it means the next Xbox hardwsre has been rushed and will just be off the shelf pc parts. A prebuikt pc especially if the comments about steam and epic games are anything to go by.

[crazyCoconuts]

If you believe they are trying to find a way to exit the bespoke hardware space, I think the messaging makes sense.
Most powerful hardware = any PC with any GPU (Nvidia included). They might partner or build their own with largely off-the-shelf parts. No more custom chips.New Xbox games are just PC games.
Some kind of emulation or something to run the old Xbox games on PC I guess. That way if you own XSX/X1/etc. games you can run them anywhere.
Slap an Xbox logo on a pre-configured PC call it an Xbox (like Surface), which is low investment to keep the xbox diehards in the ecosystem. But really at that point xbox is dead.

[S2Killinit]

Not only that but they are announcing it before the PS5 PRO because that is actually the biggest leap. I wonder if MS is omitting that when they make this claim.

[Hofstaderman]

Sarah Bond....straight from Phil's school of semantics. They selling less than the dismal One generation. Theres so much brand damage and negative perception do not be surprised if they get rebranded as MS games. When they say forward compatible games dont they mean moving your existing library to PC? That way they doubling down on their digital only plans and we all know where that leads to....
This is really a replay of Sega with Saturn to Dreamcast by trying to launch first and we know how that turned out. In essence their Hail Mary is trying to replicate the factors that led to the sales of the 360 except they now coming off the back of TWO failed console generations.

[DarXyde]

I don't think it's going to be a console. They're too intentional with their language. I think this is the second or third time they specificy "hardware".

Hardware could really just be a thumb drive. In saying the "biggest leap", it is well known that Microsoft is "directly indirect". If the hardware is, for instance, like a Firestick, but it's streaming from extremely powerful supercomputers, technically, that's true. It doesn't mean the local hardware is the biggest leap.

I realize it sounds like I'm grasping at straws, but it's the fact that Microsoft loves wordplay that warrants extreme skepticism.

I wouldn't count on the next generation having an "Xbox" as it is traditionally understood. My guess would be a handheld that's probably a streaming device and/or requires Game Pass for local hardware gaming. That, and to play the highest end version of the games that exceed Series X performance, you'll need to use cloud computing.

That's my prediction.

[Hofstaderman]

Exactly. OEM device or handheld or both. XBOX as we know it is not a thing for them.

[Hofstaderman]

One thread and it least 5 newly created troll accounts....sigh. You breaking my reading rythm as I have to stop and report them.

[Hofstaderman]

Already reported this one

[isarai]

Isn't this the lady that said that Starfield was supposed to be "The most important RPG ever made" why people keep believing lie after lie I'll never understand.

I mean her lies are already obvious, like how could you be focused on preservation yet your tentpole 1st party release for this year, Hellblade, is digital only.

[RhinoGamer88]

Still waiting on the 4k 60FPS promise from both XBOX and Playstation. #baitNswitch

[Popsicle]

They promised you 4K 60? My day one PS5 box has a big 8K symbol on it and next to that a 4K 120 logo. My Series X day one box also has 4K 120 on the front. I knew that was an oversell by both but I thought surely with that kind of oversell the truth would be to at least consistently hit 4K 60. Needless to say, I was wrong.

And this was just the beginning of me being wrong this gen. I skipped Xbox last gen after watching the E3 presentation and they never gave me a reason to jump in at any moment after.

I thought for sure that would have learned a lesson from their experience with the Xbox One gen. I thought for sure that with the next gen Series X console they would go back to their OG Xbox/360 roots and deliver a great generation.

My blind faith lead to false hope and worse, wasting money on a day one brick that only now serves as a dust collector. Never again will I be a fool for Xbox, the most powerful console in the world.

[Gamingsince1981]

Those are labels to show what its maximum capabilities are, tvs do it too

[Popsicle]

Gamingsince 1981 I know this is a marketing strategy that is old as time itself, but it doesn’t mean it isn’t misleading.

The general consumer is typically less knowledgeable than the people on this site when it comes to tech. The general consumer tends to believe what is advertised on the product is the baseline for said product.

My LG G2 advertised 4K and 120hz. I understood when I made the purchase that the TV would only display 4K at 120 with compatible content. This combined with diminishing returns is why I don’t have an 8K TV. Where is the compatible content?

My parents or even less tech savvy best friend both purchased 4K TVs in the last several years and immediately believed that everything they saw on their display from that point forward would be 4K. The placebo affect helped for a while, but in the end, they were mistaken.

[Asterphoenix]

They could throw as much money as they want they will never get huge success. But they might prove us wrong. Thing is if it was any other company they would be long gone. Personally MS would benefit better off as a full third party publisher like Sega.

[PhillyDonJawn]

There you have it, Xbox lives on

[SimpleDad]

As a green logo?

[Hofstaderman]

An app

[ocelot07]

@HarbingerT

Only fat lonely virgins uses Ponys as insults grow up.

Now for big boy pants talk. This is the problem with people like your self. You listen and take every word Microsoft say as gospel.

They lie pretty much all the time. Every company does it. Sony with the "we believe in generations". Phill Spencer is the best snake oil seller that has ever lived.

Tell me since you seem so excited. What does the biggest technical leap actually mean? I haven't a clue as it's just more pointless words from the Xbox team at this point.

For all anyone knows right now. It could be a $150 streaming stick with AI upscaling. Or a Xbox branded pc I really don't have a clue much like your self.

Why can't she just she just be like. Right people yes we are hard at work on the next Xbox console (leave out the hardware crap). It's a traditional console all Xbox fans are use to. It may not have a disc drive. But has cool new features like AI upscaling.

Or we are making a handheld console that can connect to the TV like a traditional console.

Rather than this whole we are working on hardware with the biggest technical leap.

[Popsicle]

Ocelot 07 you make such an excellent point. Nobody knows what this corporate speak truly means. It’s all a vague word game used in an effort to generate buzz and I can’t get excited about any of it. Reason being, the Xbox brand has overpromised and undelivered with their corporate speak for over a decade now.

[ironmonkey]

Mainly living at pawn shops,

[Elda]

Like the song says..."Heard it all before"

[gold_drake]

"on delivering 'the biggest technical leap ever in a generation'"

... like ThE BeAsT u say ? ha.

[banger88]

If the future of Xbox is digital-only, shove it up your f***ing ass.

[Popsicle]

Is my physical library of Xbox games going to be compatible with “the biggest technical leap ever?”

Definitely not getting my hopes up with what will likely be a forced subscription service agenda.

[AdonisIsBeast]

Lol

[Hofstaderman]

Bet you that when this hardware whatever it may be bombs, certain people are going to decrie that gamers are a racist, woman hating species that should be cancelled. Cant wait for those threads....mark my words I can see IGN's, Kotaku's and Polygon's headlines....

[MrBaskerville]

You seem like you need a hug. Must be sad to live with such a paranoid worldview.

[Hofstaderman]

Unfortunately this is what has become of the world. And I'm an eighties child, we don't do hugs.

[Profchaos]

He's not wrong ove read a few ign articles where they are happy to talk down to their readers for not indulging them in their latest movement

[XBManiac]

Well... this is like Xbox One again, but without an impressive Xbox One X to show visits for a couple of years.

[lucasnooker]

The console is only as good as its games and Xbox ain’t got shit! There’s nothing now that even shows us the capabilities of the series X. Maybe hellblade 2 when it releases but that’s just a walking simulator anyway…

[Eonjay]

Hi Sarah!

[DaniMacYo]

Yawn those most powerful this and that. LMAO.

[StormSnooper]

If this thing is still years away, can MS claim “biggest leap” when it’s the PS5 PRO that actually can claim that?

[Aussiesummer]

I have a pc, tah.

[CrimsonGuardVII]

Should be a rule on site, that if you work for a company PR TEAM parroting said company marketing you should have a logo or some kind of id saying as much. their is at least 3 Microsoft employees on site misidentified as normal users which is illegal in some places.

[Bathyj]

The most awkward hands in gaming. She animates when speaking like a Resident Evil 1 character.

[Hofstaderman]

A Jill sandwhich?

[Bathyj]

Yeah you get.
I cringe when this woman talks on stage.

[Kyizen]

So do new games have to run on X/S or those who bought those systems will be soon be left behind.

[mastershredder]

Nice, but the timing and total pandering is repulsive. This should have always been on any platform's overall agenda. It's a win for everyone that way (and MS can still find ways to profit from it). Aside from reassuring everyone that MS has a special team to do what they should be doing in the first place, how do they do things to improve their services and offerings so that they don't feel like blatant and soulless cash-grabs? That's gonna be hard.

[jznrpg]

Think we heard this one before