holiday 2027 launch says Jez
If the next Xbox is a PC, Microsoft needs to prove it can avoid Windows’ biggest problems
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By Jez Corden published 5 hours ago
I’ve been using Windows almost daily for 30 years. I know my way around its idiosyncrasies and foibles. But is that what the average Xbox gamer wants to have to deal with?
I’m well aware of how frustrating it can be for casual PC users when things don’t just work as they’re supposed to. And Xbox and other consoles have always been about that “ease of use” aspect.
The next Xbox is still a fair bit away, dropping in late 2027 at the earliest, according to my most recent information. I received details about the next-gen Xbox around the same time I exclusively reported on Project Kennan, now known as the Xbox Ally.
Microsoft reiterated its commitment to first-party Xbox hardware this summer, revealing a multi-year partnership with AMD, while touting full compatibility with the current Xbox console ecosystem library. My sources detailed to me how the next Xbox is essentially going to be a full Windows PC, albeit with a TV and controller-first interface (by default), complete with the ability to install and run third-party stores like Steam, GOG, and Epic.
Can Microsoft truly deliver a polished, console-like Windows experience in time for the next-gen Xbox’s launch?
The Xbox Full Screen Experience (often shortened to Xbox FSE) is a Windows 11 setting that allows apps to essentially take over the operating system’s user experience. It turns the Xbox app into the default interface layer, disabling unnecessary Windows tasks to free up RAM and improve controller-first navigation.
It’s far, far from perfect, though.
For Xbox users upgrading from their extremely polished Xbox Series X|S, I worry that an Xbox-ified Windows experience will feel like an epic step down if Microsoft isn’t careful.
Windows Update broke the Xbox Ally last week — will that happen to the next-gen Xbox as well?
an update to Windows 11 broke the Xbox Ally. Power settings and other ASUS Xbox Ally systems were actively becoming blocked by Windows’ own security layers, preventing users from adjusting key features of the device.
The mission ahead for Windows and Xbox is not to be underestimated
Performance is a big ongoing problem for me, with the interface getting stuck and struggling to perform smoothly — particularly after closing games or on the initial launch. It’s also lacking a lot of the integrations that the Xbox Series X|S consoles have, like embedded Discord, easy clip and screenshot sharing and uploading, library sorting and management, and app installation and access without grabbing a mouse and using the desktop environment. It’s also a bit of a pain to set up with a TV, and can be a chore to tweak and manage with a controller.
I’m not sure if Microsoft is still committed to the late 2027 timeline for the next-gen Xbox, but if it is, you have to wonder if that’s enough time to get all the chips lined up.
Historically, Windows is a productivity-first operating system, and Xbox is a gaming-first operating system. The priorities of the Windows team aren’t necessarily the same as the Xbox team’s priorities. But that needs to change.
https://www.windowscentral.com/gami…trengths-will-it-come-with-its-weaknesses-too