Microsoft is confirming today that it’s developing a next-gen Xbox console with AMD. Xbox president Sarah Bond confirmed the news in a one-minute video published on YouTube, vowing to offer “an Xbox experience not tied to one store or locked to one device.”
Bond mentions that Microsoft is teaming up with AMD for a strategic multi-year partnership, under which the duo will co-engineer silicon “across a portfolio of devices including our next-generation Xbox consoles in your living room and in your hands.” The two tech giants will also collaborate to develop the next generation of Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Xbox Beyond the Console: A Cross-Device Gaming Vision
Microsoft is making it clearer than ever that its next-gen Xbox platform will span multiple devices and won’t be limited to its own game store. It’s all about creating a flexible gaming ecosystem with one that goes wherever players go.
“That’s why we’re working closely with the Windows team to ensure that Windows is the number one platform for gaming.” – Sarah Bond
This aligns with Microsoft’s earlier announcement of a partnership with Asus to bring two Xbox Ally handheld devices to market later this year. These handhelds will feature a new full-screen Xbox experience built on top of Windows, allowing access to third-party stores like Steam. Microsoft hints this same experience will carry forward into its next-gen Xbox consoles.
Windows-Powered Xbox: The Future of Gaming
As noted in a recent newsletter, Microsoft’s future Xbox consoles are expected to be Windows-based, and part of a broader family of third-party devices considered part of the Xbox ecosystem.
A key question had been whether Xbox console games would remain compatible and Bond addresses this, confirming that the new console will include:
“maintaining compatibility with your existing library of Xbox games.”
While Xbox Ally handhelds won’t run Xbox console games without PC versions, next-gen Xbox consoles will retain full backward compatibility.
Sarah Bond’s Full Statement on the Next-Gen Xbox Console
“At Xbox our vision is for you to play the games you want with the people you want, anywhere you want. That’s why we’re investing in our next-generation hardware lineup across console, handheld, PC, cloud, and accessories.
I’m thrilled to share that we’ve established a strategic multi-year partnership with AMD to co-engineer silicon across a portfolio of devices including our next-generation Xbox consoles in your living room and in your hands. Together with AMD we’re advancing the state of art in gaming silicon to deliver the next generation of graphics innovation, to unlock a deeper level of visual quality and immersive gameplay and player experiences enhanced with the power of AI.
All while maintaining compatibility with your existing library of Xbox games. This is all about building you a gaming platform that’s always with you, so you can play the games you want across devices anywhere you want delivering you an Xbox experience not locked to a single store or tied to one device.
That’s why we’re working closely with the Windows team to ensure that Windows is the number one platform for gaming. The next-generation of Xbox is coming to life and this is just the beginning, we can’t wait to show you what’s next.”
Conclusion: Xbox Is No Longer Just a Console—It’s a Platform
Microsoft’s vision for the next generation of Xbox goes far beyond a single device or game store. With deep AMD integration, Windows-based architecture, cloud gaming, and full backward compatibility, Xbox is evolving into a versatile gaming ecosystem. Whether you’re gaming from a console, PC, handheld, or the cloud, the next-gen Xbox aims to give you the freedom to play what you want, where you want, and how you want. This marks a bold shift in gaming that could redefine the way we experience Xbox for years to come.