Xbox confirms next-gen console will be 'premium' experience

On the ROG Xbox Ally X launch day last week, Mashable sat down with the President of Xbox, Sarah Bond, and she confirmed some interesting details about the next-gen Xbox console.

We asked Bond about the rumors that the future Xbox console will be a more high-powered device, more like a gaming PC than a traditional Xbox console. She said the next Xbox will definitely deliver a "premium experience" for gamers.

“Well, I can tell you you're right that the next-gen console is going to be a very premium, very high-end, curated experience. You're starting to see some of the thinking that we have in this handheld. But I don't want to give it all away.”

So, what is that thinking, exactly? In our interview, Bond emphasized the ability to play games from any store or platform anywhere, at any time. She also said that the industry is moving away from blockbuster exclusives, which has traditionally been a focus around big console launches.

"We're really seeing people evolve way past [exclusives]," Bond said in her sit-down with Mashable. "The biggest games in the world are available everywhere. You look at Call of Duty, you look at Minecraft, you look at Fortnite, you look at Roblox. That's actually what's really driving community in gaming. That's where people gather and they have experiences. And the idea of locking it to one store or one device is antiquated for most people. You want to be able to play with your friends anywhere, regardless of what they're on. And we're really leaning into that with this experience."

Bond also said that gamers shouldn't be tied to a particular console or store.

"I want Xbox to act like every other form of entertainment, where you can access it wherever you want, wherever you are. Like, I love this idea that Xbox can always be with you. It can live in your living room. It can be with you on your laptop, in your bedroom. It can be with you when you're on the road. The thing about games is that it's deeply personal. People meet their spouses in games. People make friendships in games. It's about community, but it shouldn't be locked to one place or one device. You should be able to take that with you and be able to access it and jump in anywhere you want. And so that's what Xbox is all about."

In recent years, Xbox has invested heavily in cloud gaming, and its popular subscription service Xbox Game Pass has a growing number of cross-platform titles. So, while many gamers would tell you that Sony has won the latest era of the console wars thanks to flagship AAA exclusives, Bond seems to think the industry is moving in a different direction — and she may be right.

So, will the new Xbox console be more like a gaming PC or the Xbox Series X? And when exactly can we expect to see it hit store shelves?

Bond wouldn't say, but she again emphasized that Microsoft and Xbox are pursuing a "premium" console experience.

“Well, we are hard at work on our next-gen console,” Bond said. “There is a lot to come there where we're building our next-gen console, which delivers that premium experience, and that's always the center of what we do, but we want to give other people choice and options around that.” 

Other options like, say, the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X. Though, you'll have to wait if you didn't secure your handheld at launch. It's currently sold out at Microsoft, and Best Buy has a 30-day wait on new orders.