Xbox Next-Gen Console Reveal Teased By CEO, Hefty Price Attached

Xbox has undergone a controversial transformation in recent years, shifting away from a focus on first-party releases and hardware.

Instead, it’s been opting for a cross-platform approach with its odd ‘This is an Xbox’ campaign that argues your phone, laptop, and TV are all a version of the console.

I have a feeling, however, that all of this could soon be reversed.

Microsoft’s head of gaming Phil Spencer retired last week, followed by the surprise resignation of Xbox head Sarah Bond.

Asha Sharma was appointed as the Microsoft Gaming CEO, having previously worked as the president of Microsoft’s CoreAI division.

Sharma claimed to Xbox fans that she wasn’t a lifelong gamer but had been doing all she could to learn about the industry. She also reassured us all that she’s not going to pollute Xbox with AI “slop”.

Instead, Sharma is focusing on a “return to Xbox” - and judging by a recent interview, that appears to include an imminent return to championing new hardware.

"I think that our core Xbox fans and players have invested up to 25 years of themselves in these universes and our console,” Sharma began in an interview with Windows Central.

She continued, "Xbox players have thousands of dollars invested, in money and time too — it's incredibly important for me to understand that and protect that.

"I am committed to 'returning to Xbox,' and that starts with console, that starts with hardware. You will hear more about that soon, we'll have some announcements coming up. You will see us collectively investing here.”

It won’t be the end of ‘This is an Xbox’ as Sharma added, “We also know that there are a lot of players who aren't on console or our hardware, and I want to deliver great games to them too. I need to learn more about what that can look like, what decisions were made, what we need to do going forward, and I want a little bit of time and space to do that."

Even still, it feels abundantly clear that Sharma has entered the position with the next-gen Xbox at the forefront of both her mind and plans.

It Could Be a Pricey Few Years For Xbox Fans

Rumours had already surfaced claiming that the console could land as soon as this or next year.

It doesn’t surprise me that she might be ensuring that the original plan is adhered to.

With Sony’s new console reportedly quite a number of years away when so often Sony and Microsoft have directly competed, it does provide Xbox with a unique opportunity.

If you do want to nab the next-gen Xbox console though, I’d urge you to consider saving up your money now.

While I have to urge you to take all rumours with a pinch of salt, they do point towards the next-gen Xbox being somewhat of a console and PC hybrid. That sounds pricey, if you compare it to other products in that space like the Xbox ROG Ally X.

There’s also the price of RAM to consider. RAM, or Random Access Memory, is a crucial component in consoles, and it’s sitting at an all-time high price.

This is due to increased demand from the number of AI data centres being erected.

While some reports say the rise is flatlining, it doesn’t look set to decrease any time soon, and Microsoft would be forced to pass that price onto the consumer.

Listen, I’m excited for Xbox to embark on a new era. I don’t hate the company’s moves as of late, but the sheer lack of a GOTY nominee in over a decade proves that Xbox is missing a bit of magic.

It’s with that in mind that I’m excited to see what the next-gen Xbox offers, as long as we can actually all afford it.