Microsoft remains on schedule to deliver theXbox Series Xnext-gen console holiday 2020. For now, the Xbox team remains focused on making sure consumers know exactly what theXbox Series Xis and why it’s such a step forward from the Xbox One generation. But some Xbox fans are hearing rumors about further hardware plans from Xbox that have the potential to confuse the issue. In a recent interview, Xbox platform team member Jason Ronald reassured fans that there would be no such confusion in 2020.
The question posed to Ronald had to do with Xbox’s current hardware line-up. Specifically, the existence of the Xbox One, split between the Xbox One X and Xbox One S, the Xbox Series X, and potentially more hardware announcements. While Ronald doesn’t speak aboutXbox’s plansfor the Xbox One or any future new consoles other than the Xbox Series X, he says Xbox doesn’t expect any confusion over the matter.
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“It’s really about making sure our players have choice,” Ronald says, adding, “for our existing players, we provide an easy path for them to move forward if they choose to.” Ronald could be referring to Xbox’s dedication to supporting the Xbox One going forward, with all first-party and most third-partyXbox Series X titlesscaling to the previous gen. However, he could also be talking about a potential second console that’s more affordable launching alongside the Xbox Series X.
“It’ll become more clear as we get closer to launch,” is an important takeaway, signaling that Microsoft knows that the current Xbox hardware line-up is perhaps too broad. By the time theXbox Series X launches, Xbox’s hardware line-up and plans will clearly be better understood.
Ronald could be implying that nothing will really change come holiday 2020, and Xbox’s consoles going forward could be the Xbox One S, Xbox One X, and Xbox Series X. His comments leave room for that. But they more heavily imply thatXbox’s lineup of consoleswill be changing in a bigger way than just adding the Xbox Series X.
The current popular rumors going around are that Microsoft is at least considering an Xbox Series S that will replace the Xbox One X and become the new lower-priced Xbox console option, and that Microsoft will have anall-digital Xbox Series S, too. Which rumors are valid and which aren’t remains to be seen. But if the rumors are true, Microsoft will likely announce them in the next few months.
