A new report claims the next-gen Xbox console might not be released next year after all.
READ MORE: Xbox Game Pass 2026: what’s new and what’s worth playing?
Last week, Microsoft’s tech partners AMD confirmed work on a new chip for the console was “progressing well to support a launch in 2027,” (via IGN).
However a new report from Windows Central claims Microsoft were “a little taken off-guard” by AMD’s statement and a 2027 release window is a “best case scenario” as development is still ongoing.
Last year, Windows Central reported that the new Xbox will run Windows 11, meaning gamers will be able to play PC games via Steam and other platforms using the console. According to insiders, last year’s ROG Xbox Ally (a collaboration with computer hardware company ASUS) was prioritised above a pure handheld Xbox so Microsoft could get feedback about a PC/console hybrid.
“In theory, the next Xbox will have more games, more content, than any other video game device in history, combining games locked to the Xbox console ecosystem, while sporting full open access to every PC storefront and launcher on earth,” explained Jez Corden.
XBOX Gen-10 details:
• Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox (Gen-10) is the company’s most ambitious and risky gaming platform, built as a Windows 11 gaming PC with a TV-optimized, console-like interface.
• It supports full backward compatibility for all Xbox One, Series X|S,…
— Idle Sloth (@IdleSloth84_) February 9, 2026
According to one other insider, the next-gen Xbox could cost up to $1200 due to the cost of silicon and the price of implementing more memory and the necessary cooling components inside the console.
“The next-gen console is going to be a very premium, very high-end curated experience,” Xbox boss Sarah Bond explained in an interview last year. “You’re starting to see some of the thinking we have in this handheld but I don’t want to give it all away.”
It comes after Bond said the next-gen console would “deliver the next generation of graphics innovation [and] unlock a deeper level of visual quality, immersive gameplay and player experiences enhanced with the power of AI.” She also promised it would be “fully compatible” with users’ existing Xbox game library.
Last year, a Microsoft spokesperson hit back at rumours they would be scrapping future Xbox consoles to become a digital-only company, following online rumours. “We are actively investing in our future first-party consoles and devices designed, engineered and built by Xbox.”
In other news, Isabela Merced will lead the live-action adaptation of The House Of The Dead from Resident Evil director Paul W.S. Anderson.
The post Next-gen Xbox will launch in 2027 as a “best case scenario” appeared first on NME.