The next-gen Xbox console will offer a “powerful experience”, and will enable players to “take their library with them”, according to Xbox president Sarah Bond.
In an interview with Fortune Magazine, Xbox President Sarah Bond discussed Microsoft’s evolving strategy for the Xbox ecosystem, and the company’s ambitions for next-gen hardware, highlighting a vision focused on accessibility, player choice, and technological advancement.
Bond talked about Xbox’s evolution from a console-centric brand to a platform that spans devices and business models. As gaming habits shift, particularly among younger players who fluidly move between console, PC, mobile, and cloud, Bond stated that Xbox’s mission is to make it easier for people to access and play their games anywhere. This philosophy is reflected in initiatives like Xbox Play Anywhere, cross-platform multiplayer, and cloud streaming.
Despite the approach towards a larger ecosystem, Bond made it clear that hardware remains essential to the company. She confirmed that Xbox is actively developing its next-gen console, calling it a “powerful experience” designed not only to push technical boundaries but to allow players to seamlessly carry their entire game library across screens. The console, she says, will serve as the starting point of a unified experience that extends across PC, cloud, and mobile, preserving identity, purchases, and community.
Last month, Windows Central’s Jez Corden mentioned that Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox is effectively a full-fledged Windows PC built to deliver a console-style experience alongside free access to online multiplayer. According to him, the upcoming hardware will “run full-bore Windows, with a TV-optimized, console-style experience layered on top.” This approach is the culmination of Microsoft’s goal to merge PC and console gaming under one unified ecosystem. The device will reportedly boot directly into an Xbox Full Screen Experience, similar to the one found on the ROG Xbox Ally handheld. Players who prefer the traditional PC setup will be able to exit into the full Windows desktop and access competing stores like Steam, Epic Games Store, Battle.net, or even run productivity apps like Adobe Creative Cloud or Microsoft Office.
