Following various rumors, Microsoft announced a new multi-year partnership with AMD to jointly design multiple device chips, including the next-generation Xbox console, which will be fully compatible with the existing Xbox game library and will not be "limited to a single store."IGN says Microsoft's next-generation Xbox sounds too much like a gaming PC.
In addition, Genki, the promoter, also said that Microsoft's next-generation Xbox console sounds like it will be based on Windows and allows players to purchase games from other stores such as Steam, while also being backward compatible with players' existing Xbox game library.Allowing other game stores to appear on Xbox marks Microsoft's continued transition to third-party publishers, as Microsoft no longer cares about where you buy and play Xbox games.
Original text of IGN report:
The news that Microsoft suddenly announced that it would work with AMD to create the next-generation Xbox "device", sounded quite sudden, but to be honest, this may be the least unexpected news I have ever heard in my life.However, this has indeed opened up a new topic: As we enter the next game era, what will the future of games look like?
Although it is a good thing to know who will be made of the core chips of the next generation of Xbox, the more noteworthy information is that the Xbox team will "work closely with the Windows team to build Windows into the number one gaming platform."Combined with the ROG Xbox Ally X, which was just announced last week, Microsoft's next-generation Xbox looks really more and more like a gaming PC.
Deep integration with Windows
Xbox consoles have been moving closer to gaming PCs since the past few generations—including the operating system it runs on.Take Xbox Series X for example. Its main interface looks very similar to Windows, especially those who have experienced Windows 8 and Windows 10, which should be able to see this at a glance.
In the video released by Microsoft that introduced the collaboration with AMD, Xbox President Sarah Bond said as soon as he started, Xbox’s vision is to “make you play whatever you want and play with the people you want, no matter where you are.”This is actually not new. Microsoft has been promoting games to be easier to access in recent years, especially since launching the "Play Anywhere" program.
I often switch to play games on Xbox consoles and PCs, and "Play Anywhere" allows me to seamlessly inherit the game progress, no matter which platform I play on.Although it is still speculation at the moment, Microsoft seems to plan to take it a step further this time.In that video, Bond mentioned the hope of bringing a "not locked in by a certain store" Xbox experience.Maybe I over-interpret it, but it sounds like the next generation of Xbox has the potential to support third-party platforms such as Steam, Epic Games Store, etc.
And this is also reasonable.After all, Microsoft has just announced a "official" device with Asus - the ROG Xbox Ally X, which can run all PC gaming stores on its own.Then why not go further?
ROG Xbox Ally X is the first step
The biggest difference between ROG Xbox Ally X and other Windows handheld consoles is that Microsoft is working with Asus this time, preinstalling a "lite version of Windows" in the device.We don't know what changes have been made in this custom system, but it is certain that it will actively skip these parts when it does not need to load desktop functions.
More importantly, this device will directly launch the new Xbox App instead of entering the traditional Windows desktop.For those who have used Steam Deck, this experience should be familiar - SteamOS is essentially a modified system for Linux, and it also enters Steam mode by default, requiring you to load the desktop manually.This method is not only easier to get started, but also has higher game operation efficiency.
If the next generation of Xbox is really based on Windows, this operating mechanism is almost a "first need".After all, one of the biggest advantages of traditional game consoles over PCs is that because the system is more "lightweight", the game engine can make more efficient use of hardware resources.And Microsoft has started developing similar tools, and it would be too strange to say that it is just for the ROG Xbox Ally X.
The next generation of Xbox should be a "PC", even if Microsoft doesn't want to admit it
Today's PC gaming market is in an embarrassing period.Although PC performance is getting stronger and more diverse, there is a problem that always exists: the price is too high.Even SteamOS handheld consoles that perform well like Legion Go S are much more expensive than traditional game consoles.
Among them, Microsoft actually has a responsibility.If you buy a Windows gaming laptop or handheld console, the system licensing fee cannot be avoided.This is also why ROG Ally equipped with a regular Z1 chip is more expensive than the Steam Deck, although the hardware specifications of the two are close.
In contrast, hosts usually adopt another idea: make money by selling games and platform licensing, so they can sell hardware at a low price or even at a loss.This also makes hosts usually cheaper than equivalent PCs when they are released.Now, Microsoft has the opportunity to bring this "host mode" into a platform that is essentially a "customized gaming PC".PC games are now more popular than ever, and if Microsoft really builds the next generation of Xbox into a platform that is both like a PC and cheap and easy to use, it will undoubtedly attract a large number of new players to enter this world.
