The next-gen Xbox will be a Windows PC that offers a console-like experience and free access to online multiplayer, according to a new report.
According to Windows Central’s Jez Corden, 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. Corden, known for his credible Xbox-related insider information, has reported that 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.
Despite its PC foundation, Corden noted that the new Xbox will still feel like a console. “The onboarding experience will be similar to what you get today on console,” he said, with users able to stay entirely within the Xbox ecosystem if they choose. At the same time, its openness will allow owners to play titles previously locked to PC, including PlayStation’s PC releases like God of War and Ghost of Tsushima, as well as World of Warcraft and other Battle.net titles.
Under the hood, the console is reportedly being developed in partnership with AMD and will maintain full compatibility with all existing Xbox libraries, from the original Xbox to the Series X|S lineup. Corden stated that “AI-powered technologies like Auto Super Resolution and next-gen frame generation” will enhance older titles running on the new hardware.
One of the most prominent changes to accompany the next-gen Xbox may be the end of Xbox Live’s online paywall, allowing free access to online multiplayer. Corden said, “Right now, I’m told the current plan is for the next Xbox specifically to have no paywall for multiplayer,” since such a restriction “wouldn’t make a lick of sense for a ‘PC’.”
While Xbox President Sarah Bond has said that the console will be a “very premium, very high-end curated experience,” Microsoft’s scale and integrated Windows licensing could make it more affordable than equivalent gaming PCs. Corden believes the project aims to deliver “the most cost-effective curated onboarding to the world of PC gaming the market has ever seen.”
The next Xbox is reportedly targeting a 2027 launch window, with the ASUS-made Xbox Ally serving as a public “beta test” for the concept.
