The hardware market really is all over the place right now, with doubts and rumours swirling given the unpleasant state of the wider world right now.
Specifically, the rise of AI has driven the price of components like RAM up significantly, with many predicting the problem will only get worse, as products that use it also see major price rises.
At the same time, speculation on the next generation of console releases from the major manufacturers will look like, with Xbox supposedly heading towards a very powerful, and very expensive, machine, as part of their push to further integrate the console market and the PC market.
All of that gives me a bit of a headache, so in the interests of ignoring it until it becomes relevant, we might be getting some other Xbox hardware this year, if recent rumours are to be believed.
Xbox Hardware Slated For 2026 Release
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Windows Central recently shared their major predictions for Xbox releases in 2026, with plenty of rumours reserved for some pretty big releases in the hardware department as we head into the next 12 months or so.
"I'm told we should also see some new Xbox hardware this year. I suspect we'll finally see the Xbox Elite Controller Series 3 break cover in 2026, and perhaps even other controller revisions.
I'm told Microsoft's next-generation Xbox controllers all support direct-to-WiFi connectivity, eliminating Bluetooth latency from cloud gaming scenarios," the post reads.
"There's always the chance we'll see more "Xbox" branded OEM hardware, taking advantage of the Xbox Full Screen Experience on Windows, similar to the Xbox Ally. I've been working through some credible rumours that we could see an OEM "Xbox" PC in 2026, but time will tell whether or not that one pans out."
If you haven't had the chance to use one yet, the Xbox ROG Ally is one of the best handhelds out there, and a real look at what the future of gaming in that medium could be like. At the same time, the Elite controller series are pretty comfortably the most impressive devices of that type that I have ever used, so an improvement sounds like a very tempting proposition.
As mentioned earlier, this doesn't go as far as being official confirmation of anything, but given how big a year 2026 really needs to be for Xbox, it wouldn't be a surprise to see them diversify releases as much as possible.