With the next Xbox, Microsoft is set to rely on Windows as its foundation, without losing sight of backward compatibility.
A switch to Windows and a price tag of over €1,000 were among the features that did not exactly elicit cheers from fans.
Microsoft has since refuted some of the rumors. According to industry insider Jez Corden, however, Microsoft could actually rely on Windows for the next Xbox.
The most important details:
- The next Xbox will run on Windows, but in console style.
- It will support both PC games and classic Xbox games.
- The switch to PC will make multiplayer free.
Microsoft to focus on Windows
The next Xbox, like the Xbox Ally handheld from Asus, will run on Windows. However, Microsoft plans to optimize the experience for TVs so that players still feel like they are using a console.
According to Corden, the Xbox Ally handheld released this year was also important for Microsoft in order to gather feedback from players and developers.
Windows games and Xbox games to be supported
Unlike the gaming handheld, the next Xbox console will natively support Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Xbox 360 games in addition to PC games. Future games developed specifically for Xbox will also run on the next console.
Xbox Play Anywhere will also continue to be supported.
Good to know: Xbox Play Anywhere allows players to buy a game once and then play it on Windows, Xbox, or Xbox Cloud. Changes to multiplayer
It is still unclear how Microsoft will proceed with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. According to Jez Corden, however, Microsoft is planning to enable multiplayer on the new Xbox without any fees. The idea behind this is that players will be able to access free multiplayer by installing Steam or the Epic Games Store on the new Xbox.
Microsoft has not yet commented on the rumors.
Now we want to hear your opinion. What do you think of the rumors? Would you buy an Xbox if it ran on Windows? Feel free to leave us a comment!
