Microsoft is gearing up for a truly next-generation console, scheduled for a 2028 launch.
The ongoing legal dispute between the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Microsoft is where these exposed files, marked as confidential corporate data, originate. It seems that someone accidentally left these documents unedited, and they first emerged on the Resetera forum. This breach includes a wealth of emails, Xbox presentations, and diverse forms of communication, in addition to a strategic plan that outlines developments up to the year 2030.
Within the last three months, Microsoft has encountered its third major setback. In July, the China-linked threat actor “Storm-0324” managed to breach security and steal signing keys, providing access to the emails of U.S. government personnel. Merely two months afterward, a misconfigured Azure storage incident resulted in the exposure of an enormous 38TB of private data. Throughout this time frame, critics voiced concerns about Microsoft’s perceived lapses in security practices.
Gamers will find the latest leak to be a valuable resource, providing insights into Xbox’s future strategies up to 2030. However, it’s important to consider that these leaked documents might be outdated, originating from the early months of 2022.
Cutting-Edge Gaming Devices
Microsoft’s Xbox Series X, the current-gen powerhouse in terms of performance, is on the brink of a major transformation. It’s gearing up for a dramatic redesign, adopting a circular, “beautifully innovative new design,” while simultaneously ditching its DVD drive. This upgrade also includes a substantial storage boost, now boasting an impressive 2TB capacity and transitioning to an all-digital format.
Known as “Brooklin,” this refresh will maintain its $499 price tag, ensuring affordability for gamers. Alongside these changes, it will introduce faster Wi-Fi 6E connectivity to enhance online gaming experiences. Furthermore, the console has been engineered for greater eco-friendliness, reducing power consumption by 15%. Gamers can look forward to the launch of this revamped Xbox Series X around November 2024.
The forthcoming console is set to introduce a brand-new “Sebile” controller, which boasts updated haptic feedback and accelerometer features, a rechargeable and swappable battery, modular thumbsticks, the use of recycled materials, and the inclusion of new functions like “lift-to-wake.” The controller was originally scheduled for release earlier, around May 2024.
Regarding the truly next-generation console expected in 2028, Microsoft has yet to make a final decision between the competing ARM64 and x64 CPU architectures. Their plans revolve around achieving a balance in CPU cores between Big and Little and implementing next-generation Raytracing, along with other advanced features.
The Xbox leak also offers insights into an upcoming game release schedule, featuring titles not officially announced yet, including Indiana Jones, Doom Year Zero with associated DLCs, The Elder Scrolls VI, Project Kestrel with an expansion, Fallout 3 Remaster, Dishonored 3, Project Platinum, and more. Leaked slides suggest that Xbox Gaming CSA revenues are on track to reach a remarkable $36 billion by 2030.
