In the five years since the start of the current console generation, Sony and Microsoft have taken wildly different paths.
While the former has released two gadgets to go with the PS5, namely the PS VR2 headset and the PS Portal handheld, Microsoft has prioritised software by bulking up its Game Pass subscription service and acquiring Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard.
In an unprecedented move, Xbox games have even been turning up on PlayStation as Microsoft seeks to grow its player base.
But, just when it seemed like Xbox hardware was being sidelined, news has surfaced of the company’s next-gen plans. And it sounds like Microsoft won’t be ditching consoles after all.
Next-gen Xbox release date and details
In fact, it's planning to release the follow-up to the Xbox Series X/S in 2027, according to Windows Central. That’s the same year that Sony is expected to release the PS6, marking the ostensible start of the next console generation.
The new hardware will be more like a PC than ever, according to Windows Central’s Jez Corden, but in a “TV-friendly shell”.
Although Xbox already shares DNA with Windows, the next-gen console looks set to blur the lines even further. This will make it easier than ever for developers to bring their games to both platforms with minimal effort.
The new Xbox will also come with improved controllers that allow players to switch seamlessly between different devices. This sounds great for when you’re streaming games over the internet on Game Pass.
Xbox’s leadership has previously hinted that development is well underway for its next system. Described as “the biggest technological leap ever in a generation”, the console aims to push hardware capabilities while ensuring players can continue enjoying older titles through backward compatibility.
And with no mid-generation refresh on the cards, unlike Sony’s PS5 Pro, Microsoft is positioning its next-gen system as a future-proof beast that’s built to last.
Xbox handheld release date and details
We’ll get our first glimpse of Xbox’s growing ties with PC gaming later this year when Microsoft launches its first Xbox handheld.
Codenamed "Keenan," the device is reportedly being developed with a major PC gaming brand — think ASUS, Lenovo, or Razer—and is expected to arrive in late 2025.
Unlike traditional Xbox consoles, this handheld will likely run full Windows, making the Microsoft Store, PC Game Pass, and even third-party platforms like Steam easily accessible. It’s being positioned as a PC combined with an Xbox, complete with an official guide button and a familiar design.
Microsoft is reportedly using Keenan as a testbed for new Windows 11 features. It aims to streamline the experience for handheld gaming while reducing the usual bloatware in Windows handhelds.
If successful, it could lay the groundwork for Microsoft’s broader Xbox-PC vision. What remains unclear is whether this handheld could eventually replace the Xbox Series S, which critics argue has held back the current generation by limiting developers with its lower specs.
