Microsoft’s Xbox is one of the major mainstream brands in the industry of gaming consoles. They have had several different models in their lineup. The ones not discontinued are the Xbox Series S and the Xbox Series X.
Recent leaks show that Microsoft has some big things planned for them. There is also speculation for a new product, which will be discussed in this article.
Xbox Series S and Series X to Get a Refresh in 2024
The recent leak by the FTC is a pretty huge one. It reveals that Microsoft plans to refresh the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X in 2024. For context, this is the first refresh they will get, although Microsoft previously denied claims of this happening. The refreshed models will have new features and functionalities based on the latest technologies.
Xbox Series S Refresh — Project Ellewood
The Xbox Series S Refresh, codenamed Project Ellewood, is planned for the third quarter of 2024. The leaked documents show that the console will feature a rectangular design similar to the existing model. There will also be a new controller with a sleeker design.
As for the technicalities, the Xbox Series S Refresh will sport WiFi 6E standard, Bluetooth 5.2, and a better standby mode, which is allegedly more efficient by up to 20%. The internal storage will also get a bump to 1TB, twice as much as the 512GB on the existing console. It will come with the same price tag of $299 as the current Xbox Series S.
Xbox Series X Refresh — Project Brooklin
We may also see the Xbox Series X Refresh and Project Ellewood in the third quarter of 2024. The Xbox Series X Refresh, codenamed Project Brooklin, will also come with many new things. For starters, it has an all-new and striking cylindrical design. The existing model has a rectangular design if you are unaware of that.
In addition to the new design, we will also see the same WiFi 6E standard and Bluetooth 5.2. It will also come with a 6nm SoC, reducing the PSU power by 15%. The new standby mode will also make it to the Xbox Series X Refresh.
Besides, the internal storage capacity will also be 2TB, twice as much as the existing Xbox Series X console. To top all of this, it will also feature a USB-C port with support for power delivery. As for the cost, it will come with the same price tag of $499.
As the documents state, we will see more internal storage variants in the latter half of 2025.
Next-Gen Xbox by 2028
In addition to the refreshed Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X models, the leaked documents reveal Microsoft’s plans for a next-generation Xbox. While there is no mention of this new console’s name and codename, there are some key details.
The documents mention a choice between ARM64 and x64-based CPUs. The x64 CPU will be based on AMD Zen 6 core IP. The CPU will feature a hybrid design, meaning there will be ‘big’ and ‘little’ cores, much like Intel’s way of doing it since their 12th-gen CPUs.
As for the GPU, the documents state that it will either be co-designed with AMD or something based on RDNA 5 architecture like Navi 5. This Next-Gen Xbox will also see major upgrades in the Neural Processing Unit (NPU), which handles Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning-related tasks.
The leaked documents also have a section called ‘Graphics Innovation,’ under which they have mentioned the new stuff coming with the Next-Gen Xbox. You can check them below.
- Next Gen DirectX Raytracing
- Dynamic Global Illumination
- Micropolygon Rendering Optimizations
- ML-Based Super Resolution
- Extensibility Model for Faster Iteration and Innovation
There is nothing more than this about the Next-Gen Xbox mentioned in the leaks. The launch time window seems to be in 2028.
Other Things in the Leak
Apart from the refreshed and Next-Gen Xbox consoles, a few other things mentioned in the leaked documents are worth noting. First, two new Xbox controllers are codenamed Sebile and Igraine. They are designed to provide more comfort and a better gaming experience. Sebile has a dual-tone design — one horizontal half is white, and the other is black. Igraine also comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable.
Besides that, there is also a mention of something called ‘Thin OS.’ It will be for sub $99 consumer and handheld devices. This could be about ‘cloud hybrid’ gaming that Microsoft mentions in one slide of the documents.
Conclusion
While this is very exciting for the gaming community, none is certain. We do not know if the documents are recent. If they are not, the timeline for these launches may no longer be the same. And in a worst-case scenario, these products may not even see the light of the day.
