Microsoft plans to make 2026 a defining year for Xbox, as the company will celebrate its 25th anniversary and set the course of its future.
During a recent interview with the BBC, Jason Ronald, Vice President of Next-Gen Xbox Gaming Devices and Ecosystem, talked about the Microsoft’s long-term strategy for its gaming platform, its hardware ambitions, and the growing success of the ROG Xbox Ally X.
When asked why Xbox hadn’t pursued a handheld-style device earlier, despite years of fan requests, Ronald explained that timing and technology had finally aligned. “We’re always thinking about what the future of gaming is and new ways for people to be able to play,” he said. According to Ronald, earlier attempts weren’t viable because the necessary ecosystem, player behavior trends, and hardware capabilities simply weren’t there. This time, the company evaluated “where the industry is going, where the technology landscape is, and even just how games are built,” ultimately concluding that now was the right moment to “re-enter the handheld space.”
Ronald also highlighted Xbox’s long-held commitment to preserving older games. “Great games are timeless,” he noted, adding that the company feels “a responsibility to preserve the games from the past and enable them to be played in entirely new ways.”
The philosophy pf preservation gives rise to the question of whether more original Xbox titles will be making their way to Game Pass. While Ronald was unable to confirm or deny anything at this point, he hinted at big announcements on the horizon. “I can’t announce anything today,” he said, but pointed to 2026 as a major year for Xbox. “It’s the 25th anniversary of Xbox and we want to celebrate the great legacy and the history that we have as well as defining the future for where the Xbox ecosystem is going.” He encouraged fans to “stay tuned” as the company has “a lot of exciting things to share next year.”
