Huge Xbox console leaks spin out of Microsoft/FTC court battle

While Microsoft and the FTC fight over the Activision acquisition, some very interesting (unrelated) details have emerged.

Refresh (and neXtbox) incoming

If you somehow don’t know, Microsoft’s acquisition of publisher Activision has been a little weird. The opposite of smooth, the deal has hit all manner of speed bumps, as government bodies the world over have gotten involved in the proceedings. While most have seemingly been seen to, the United States’ Federal Trade Commission is still a little iffy on the whole thing.

Honestly the case itself is pretty dull and we all likely know the outcome anyway, but it’s what’s emerged from filings that’s much more interesting. That, as you can tell from the headline, is console news. It goes without saying that none of this has been officially announced, but if it’s accurate, it’s a plan that looks like it’ll follow the last generation pretty closely.

Reportedly 2024 will see the arrival of a pair of new Xbox’, meant to beef up the product line, if not outright replace both the Series X and Series S. The kick is that both of these new units are digital only, so it seems unlikely that the X would be replaced. Although there’s a ways to go til the end of 2024, there’s been no indication that discs are going anywhere as a format.

Going one step further, the next Xbox generation looks like it’ll be starting in 2028. That would mean that the current cycle, including the refresh that’s apparently coming, would be 8 years long. Seems to fit with what we’ve come to expect, though the leak doesn’t fit with Microsoft’s stated goal of eliminating ‘generations’ altogether.

Aside from the above, there was a glut of other info as well. That includes Xbox honcho Phil Spencer reiterating his desire for the company to acquire Nintendo, a new haptic-feedback Xbox controller coming in mid ’24, and sequels that are in the works from Bethesda. Among those titles are Dishonored 3, Doom Year Zero, and remasters of The Elder Scrolls 4 and Fallout 3.

Source: GamesIndustry.biz