Microsoft’s Xbox roadmap has leaked due to a big assortment of unredacted paperwork which have apparently been printed by mistake by the FTC (by way of The Verge). The confidential paperwork embody an inside Xbox presentation titled “Roadmap to 2030” the place Microsoft particulars mid-gen refreshes for its Xbox Sequence X|S consoles, a brand new Xbox controller, and what the corporate is cooking for the tenth console era.
To my information, a leak of this scale is unprecedented within the historical past of the gaming business. Whereas there’s no official response from Microsoft but, the corporate can’t be completely satisfied about it in any respect. Whereas a whole lot of details about the Xbox Sequence X and Sequence S (codenamed Anaconda and Lockhart) had leaked earlier than Microsoft formally introduced the Sequence X in December 2019, having your whole product roadmap for the present console era and your plans for the subsequent one leak is actually not excellent news.
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Anyway, there’s actually a whole lot of info on this doc dated from Might 2022, so let’s dive in.
Xbox Sequence X “Brooklin” refresh coming in 2024
Regardless of Phil Spencer lately saying that Microsoft has no have to do a mid-gen refresh throughout this console era, a brand new all-digital Xbox Sequence X codenamed “Brooklyn” is coming within the fall of 2024, and it is going to be priced at $499. The brand new console could have a cylindrical design, and it’ll include 2TB of inside storage, a USB-C port on the entrance that helps energy supply, and a couple of USB-A ports on the again. In response to the doc, this refreshed Xbox Sequence X may even be customizable by way of the Xbox Design Lab.
Microsoft may even add Wi-Fi 6E assist on this new Xbox Sequence X, in addition to Bluetooth 5.2, which can be a primary on an Xbox console. The presentation additionally mentions a brand new “Xbox Wi-fi 2” protocol to connect with Xbox controllers and different equipment, although we don’t have any extra particulars about that.
It’s essential to notice that this refreshed Xbox Sequence X received’t be extra highly effective than the present Sequence X mannequin. You’ll get the identical 12 teraflops of computing energy and 16GB of RAM. Nonetheless, the brand new Sequence X will include a extra power-efficient 6nm SoC that may scale back energy by 15%. A brand new low-power standby mode may even eat simply 20% of the facility of the present standby mode on Xbox Sequence X|S consoles.
Xbox Sequence S “Ellewood” refresh additionally coming in 2024
Despite the fact that Microsoft has simply launched a brand new Xbox Sequence S Carbon Black with 1TB of storage, a brand new model of the console codenamed “Ellewood” may even launch within the fall of 2024. This new Sequence S could have 1TB of storage by default, and it’ll additionally add Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and Xbox Wi-fi 2 assist.
The presentation doesn’t point out a brand new 6nm SoC for this console, however you’ll nonetheless get the identical 10GB of RAM and 4 teraflops of computing energy. If there are apparently no energy effectivity enhancements throughout gameplay, the brand new Sequence S may even assist the identical improved low-power standby mode because the refreshed Xbox Sequence X.
New Xbox Controller with accelerometer and cloud connectivity
The 2 new refreshed Xbox consoles will include a redesigned controller codenamed “Sebile.” Whereas the ergonomics are just like the present Xbox Sequence X|S controller, this new controller will use new modular thumbsticks delivering improved longevity, and hopefully, meaning fewer stick drift points. All controllers may even include rechargeable and swappable batteries, which is one other welcome change.
This new controller could have an accelerometer to enhance immersion in video games, and the presentation additionally mentions that “VCA haptics double as audio system.” The accelerometer may even add assist for a brand new “Elevate to wake” functionality on Xbox consoles.
This redesigned controller will assist a brand new Xbox Wi-fi 2 protocol, Bluetooth 5.2, in addition to a brand new direct connection to Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming servers. Google used the same expertise to cut back latency on its Stadia controller, and Amazon’s Luna controller additionally has the same direct-to-cloud connectivity.
In response to the leaked presentation, this new Xbox controller will launch in Might 2024. Microsoft deliberate to announce its refreshed Xbox Sequence X and Sequence S consoles throughout an Xbox occasion in June 2024. The brand new Sequence S may launch in late August and be adopted by the refreshed Sequence X in late October.
Microsoft is focusing on 2028 for its next-gen Xbox
In one other confidential doc that leaked on Resetera right now, we realized that Microsoft’s next-gen Xbox console may launch in 2028. For this new console era, Microsoft desires to construct a “cloud to edge” structure that may assist cloud hybrid video games. There may even be an enormous deal with AI and machine studying to optimize efficiency and graphics.
Underneath the hood, Microsoft is contemplating both an ARM64 SoC or a conventional x64 “Zen 6” SoC constructed by AMD. The CPU a part of the SoC could have a mixture of high-performance cores and high-efficiency cores, whereas the GPU will both be co-designed with AMD or be personalized by Microsoft utilizing AMD IP. The following-gen Xbox SoC may even embody a neural processing unit (NPU) to optimize workloads.
Microsoft’s recreation roadmap contains Fallout 3 and Oblivion remasters
Final however not least, a launch schedule listing of Xbox-exclusive video games has additionally leaked on Resetera, although the details about launch dates appears to be old-fashioned. Anyway, Microsoft apparently has remasters of Fallout 3 and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion within the pipeline, which is nice information for avid gamers who haven’t skilled these classics but. Whereas the Xbox 360 variations of those two video games are backwards suitable on Xbox consoles, Fallout 3 doesn’t run very nicely on trendy PCs.
As for brand spanking new video games, this recreation roadmap mentions a brand new Doom recreation known as Doom Yr Zero. Arkane Studios, which launched the poorly-received Redfall earlier this 12 months can also be engaged on Dishonored 3. A sequel to Tango Gameworks’ Ghostwire Tokyo can also be within the pipeline.
That’s a whole lot of new info to digest and whereas we’re ready to see how Microsoft reacts to this large leak, the refreshed Xbox Sequence X coming with no disc drive implies that the corporate is actually about to surrender on bodily video games. It nonetheless stays to be seen if the corporate may proceed promoting the current-gen Sequence X with a disc drive, however the way forward for Xbox is unquestionably all-digital.
