Microsoft’s next Xbox generation is reported to launch in 2027, and we know that the next console offering will be more of a PC/console hybrid. The company has been going all-in on the “This Is An Xbox” idea, championing Xbox as a platform accessible from multiple devices, not just from Microsoft’s own hardware. Today, Tom Warren, senior editor at The Verge, has found that the Xbox PC app now has console-like navigation sounds.
These sounds are nearly identical to those of the current Xbox Series X|S consoles, and you can hear them on PC when using a controller. These same sound effects apply to handheld consoles like Xbox ROG Ally. Speaking of which, this update is likely to make the Xbox-branded ROG Ally feel even more like an Xbox.
A Simple Update, But Does It Go Deeper?
PC and handheld PC gamers now likely have a good idea of what the UI will look like for the next generation of Xbox. If you’re on either of those platforms, you can launch the Xbox app and takea look for yourself. You’ll find a glowing Xbox logo, all your games from different launchers (Yes, that includes Steam), and of course, Game Pass. This is basically the “Xbox Fullscreen Experience,” which streamlines the UI for handheld PCs like the Xbox ROG Ally.
But the fact that the traditional PC app is also getting these new features and a facelift is indicative of what’s to come: the Xbox PC. Xbox President Sarah Bond has already hinted that the next Xbox will be a “very premium, very high-end curated experience.” With the whole DRAM price gouging and shortage situation right now, that experience is looking much more expensive than we initially thought.
On one side, it’s good that Xbox is opening up to other platforms and adding more features as a result. But on the other end, it’s a bit worrying for the dedicated Xbox fans, who always looked to Xbox as an accessible and affordable way of gaming. Game Pass prices have also risen significantly in the past year, so that whole affordable idea is certainly changing.
