It's quite shocking to realize that it's been five years since the last major Xbox console release, and the next wave of hardware should be arriving in the next few years. We're at the point where Microsoft is actively teasing the new console, and it sounds like the new system may be some kind of PC/Xbox hybrid — and I'm not sure how I feel about that.
Speaking with Mashable, Xbox president Sarah Bond dropped some hints about the new console, and likened it to the new ROG Xbox Ally X handheld. When asked about rumors the console would be more PC-like, Bond said that: “I can tell you you’re right, that the next-gen console is going to be a very premium, very high-end curated experience. You’re starting to see some of the thinking we have in this handheld, but I don’t want to give it all away.”
That answer is very coy, to say the least, and it doesn't give us much to work with. But if the Xbox Ally X is a template of sorts, then it could tell us something about what to expect from the next Xbox.
How could the next Xbox learn from the Xbox Ally X?
For those that don't know, the Xbox Ally X is a handheld gaming PC that runs on Windows 11. What sets it apart, aside from the Xbox-inspired controller, is the fact that it runs on an Xbox UI.
In other words, it's the closest thing we have to a handheld Xbox, especially if you still have an active Game Pass subscription and an extensive catalogue of games that support the "Xbox Play Anywhere" program.
What the handheld tells us is that it's possible to have an Xbox-like experience on a Windows machine. So it's not outside the realm of possibility that the next Xbox could be some kind of Windows machine — which would put it on a similar level to certain gaming PCs.
It's not outside the realm of possibility that the next Xbox could be some kind of Windows machine, which would put it on a similar level to certain gaming PCs.
The question is how the console is going to differ from having your own PC? Personally, I gravitate towards console gaming for general peace of mind. I have a device that I know will be able to run the games I want to play, and I don't have to worry about anything other than making sure my controller is charged.
Yes, I could probably get a similar experience with a pre-built gaming PC and a little more research before I buy. But it's that absolutely thought-free process that makes consoles appealing. So I do have a few concerns about how that experience might change if Xbox does end up blurring the lines between console and PC.
There have been plenty of attempts to do this in the past, and offer PC gaming with a more console-like experience. Valve's Steam Machine series is one example I can think of, and that was a complete failure for a variety of reasons. Considering some of the other blunders Microsoft has made in recent years, I don't have full confidence that they won't screw things up somehow.
Or maybe I'm overthinking it. I'd like to think that Microsoft has a handle on what makes for a good games console and why people opt for consoles over PCs in the first place. Plus, with Valve supposedly trying to do something similar with the Steam Console, the pressure is on the company not to mess this up.
Then again, this is also the company that decided one of its consoles also needed to be a $500 TV box that would break if you didn't connect to the internet once a day.
There are some benefits to this
One thing we do know is that the next Xbox won't be locked into a single digital storefront. So rather than being forced to buy all your digital games from the Xbox Store, you should have the option to go elsewhere. Whether that's Steam, Epic Games, or some other store hasn't been fully confirmed. But this can only be a good thing.
The big issue with consoles has always been that you can only get your games from a single source — so Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo can usually charge whatever they like. Having PC gaming stores on the new Xbox means more choice, and hopefully access to cheaper games in the process. Plus, if Microsoft has any sense, it'll make sure modding support is available. Even if it's only for PC-made games.
These are definitely not things to complain about, especially with how expensive console games have become in recent years. Just as long as I still have the option to buy games on disc too, because I'm not ready to give up physical media just yet.
I'm torn about this whole thing, but I'll avoid making any snap decisions just yet. Yes, Microsoft has pulled off some epic blunders with the Xbox brand recently, but at the same time there could be some benefits to having more PC experiences on a console platform.
We're just going to have to wait and see what happens, and hope that Microsoft doesn't decide to charge people an absolute fortune for the privilege. It's bad enough that the Xbox Series X and Xbox Ally X cost as much as they do, without throwing another near-quadruple-digit gaming machine our way. Especially since we'd likely have to wait several years for something with better specs.
