Thanks to several internal Microsoft memos shared by Windows Central, we learn more about the company’s plans for Xbox for the years to come. If the manufacturer is already on a war footing to prepare the next generation of console, it aims to also become a reference in the preservation of titles released on its old machines.
If you follow video game news, you probably know that the main manufacturers on the market are already focused on the next generation of home consoles. For good reason, leaks are multiplying concerning the Nintendo Switch 2, but also the PS5 Pro which will mark an intermediate step before the PS6.
On the Xbox side, things are also in motion. First of all there are the famous Brooklin and Ellewood projects, Slim and improved versions of the current Xbox Series X and S. Recently, we were also able to discover stolen images of a new version of the Xbox Series This new machine could also enter the market very soon, with a supposed release before September 2024.
But that’s not all about the Redmond firm. Thanks to the publication of several internal documents revealed during its trial before the American Federal Trade Bureau, we learn more about the American company’s plans regarding Xbox. Thus, we know, for example, that the brand is actively preparing the next generation, with a launch scheduled for 2028.
Also read: Xbox wants to release a portable console, but doesn’t yet know how
Microsoft prepares for the future and wants to preserve the past
Microsoft’s ambitions are already on display, with the company promising that this will be the most significant technological leap ever made between two generations. In an internal memo, Sarah Bond, the newly appointed new boss of Xbox, also made a point of reaffirm Microsoft’s commitment to preserving titles released so far on Xbox Series, but also on the manufacturer’s previous machines (Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Xbox 1st of the name).
The manager explains in particular thata new team dedicated to this particular task has just been formed. “We build on our strong history of backwards compatibility for our gamers, and we remain committed to delivering the incredible library of Xbox games for future generations of gamers to enjoy,” she writes. It now remains to be seen whether the work of this team will only focus on the firm’s games (which now includes Activision-Blizzard or Bethesda productions), or titles from other publishers.
Also read: Xbox boss pleads for legal emulation to preserve old video games
On this specific aspect, Microsoft has always stood out by a policy in favor of backward compatibility. For good reason, the Xbox Series Xbox Game Pass is also home to many titles from previous generations.
With the rise of the digital format and especially the closure of several online stores such as that of the Nintendo e-Shop Wii U and 3DS which occurred in March 2024, the question of preserving games has become essential. According to a recent study by the Video Game History Foundation, nearly 90% of titles released before 2010 have already disappeared…
Source: Windows Central