For several months, the future of the new generation Xbox console has fueled debate. Between marketing repositioning, drop in hardware sales and multiplatform strategy difficult to understand, Microsoft is going through a pivotal period. The latest financial results confirmed a 32% fall in hardware revenue in FY26 Q2. A significant drop which reinforces the impression of a model to be rethought.
A PC-style console that would have divided
At the heart of the discussions: the idea of a new generation Xbox inspired by the PC. A device presented as capable of “offering a high-end and exclusive experience”. This direction immediately raised concerns. A premium console, potentially more expensive and geared more towards a PC audience, could have alienated traditional Xbox players. In a context where the Xbox Series X and Series S are already struggling to compete with the competition, this price positioning risked further slowing down adoption.
A strategic shift criticized internally
According to a report relayed by The Verge, the transition made in recent years was not unanimous internally. The document claims that “the shift away from console, led by Bond under Spencer’s leadership, has not gone well for Xbox.” He also mentions employees “relieved that Bond is leaving Microsoft”. Even more, this strategy would have been perceived as “pursuing the customers of tomorrow while neglecting those of today”.
A return to fundamentals envisaged
Faced with these criticisms, the new management could begin a refocusing. Matt Booty said that “Xbox’s studio system is entirely built around the first party. We are not designed to just be a publisher. » This statement suggests a possible return to a strategy focused on exclusives, long considered the main driver of a console’s attractiveness. Asha Sharma also emphasized that “there is a great community at Xbox, and we will look at how we can best serve that community.”
A new Xbox to redefine
The next generation could therefore take a different direction than that initially envisaged. A more affordable console, supported by a solid catalog of exclusives from first-party studios, would allow Microsoft to consolidate its current base while attracting new players.
Conversely, a premium model close to the PC would risk limiting its potential audience. The future of next-gen Xbox will now depend on Microsoft’s ability to learn from the Xbox One and Xbox Series cycles. The next strategic choice could determine the brand’s place for the decade to come.