Microsoft In recent years, it has been increasingly clear that it sees the future of Xbox not just as another "box under the TV", but rather as a broader platform that connects consoles, PCs, handhelds and cloud. And the upcoming next-generation Xbox, internally referred to as Xbox Gen-10 and often associated with the name Magnus, is supposed to be the boldest step in this direction yet. According to available information, it will not be a classic console in the traditional sense, but a device built on the foundations of Windows 11, which will function as a gaming PC with a console-like interface. What does this mean in practice, when is the device expected, and how could it change the face of gaming?
Xbox Magnus as Windows 11 gaming PCs in the body of consoles
The basic idea of the new generation of Xbox is diametrically different from how we currently understand game consoles. Microsoft he wants to build the console as a full-fledged gaming computer with Windows 11, which at first glance, even in normal use, looks like a classic Xbox. After turning it on, the user is again in an environment optimized for the TV and the controller, i.e. in a kind of "console mode" above WindowsIn other words, at first glance it shouldn't be completely obvious that you're actually turning on a gaming PC and not a console, as the environment should be very close to what we know from previous Xboxes.
At the same time, it will reportedly not be a problem to exit this interface and switch to the full version.Windows 11, which opens the door to things we don't expect from a console these days. The new Xbox should actually function like a classic computer, which should allow for things like working with video, music production, or programming. In this respect, the concept is close to what Steam Deck offers with its desktop Linux mode, only on a much larger scale. Pro YouTubers and the like could then be a very interesting simplification of their work, as they could theoretically edit what they recorded on Xbox while playing on the same piece of hardware.
Magnus chip and collaboration Microsoftus AMD
The heart of the next-generation Xbox is to be a specially designed SoC from AMD, codenamed Magnus. The development of this chip has even been confirmed by AMD CEO Lisa Su, who said that work is progressing well and is targeting a 2027 launch.
However, the year 2027 should be taken with a grain of salt. There are rumors in the corridors that some people from MicrosoftThey were reportedly surprised by this timeframe, as there is internal talk that the key bottleneck may not be hardware, but rather fine-tuning. Windows 11 so that it works flawlessly and "finished" in console mode. The year 2027 is therefore a rather optimistic scenario, although still realistic. That is, unless the AMD boss knows something to do with it in MicrosoftOnly the highest of the highest count.
That Microsoft However, it is a foregone conclusion that AMD is also counting on the future. Xbox President Sarah Bond recently confirmed a multi-year partnership with AMD, which includes not only the chip itself, but also long-term backward compatibility support.
Backwards compatibility without compromise and much more!
Backward compatibility is supposed to be one of the strongest points of the Xbox Magnus. It should be available in full version, thanks to which we should be able to play games from:
- the original Xbox
- Xbox 360
- Xbox One
- Xbox Series X | S
And what is even more interesting for me personally, because it is basically about Windows 11 PC, plus the ability to run regular PC games. In other words, the player's library is expanded almost immediately by a huge number of titles without the need to buy anything again. After all, Microsoft already suggests that the future is not a closed ecosystem. Xbox Magnus should support:
- Xbox Store
- Steam
- Epic Games Store
The player will therefore be able to choose where to purchase the game, similar to how they do on PC. Pro Microsoft It's part of a broader "Xbox Everywhere" strategy that aims to get Xbox services to as many devices as possible. A byproduct of this news, which I think is also extremely important, is that this step Microsoft It will include exclusives that were previously only available in PC + PS mode. ProFor example, Last of Us, a console exclusive for PlayStation, is available on Steam, so we should be able to play it in the PC version (i.e., in a paradoxically higher quality version than the one available on PlayStation) on Xbox in PC mode.
Xbox Everywhere and third-party devices
Extremely interesting news is that Microsoft does not want to build just one console. On the contrary, it is reportedly counting on partners like ASUS, Lenovo, or Razer to produce their own Xbox-certified devices at different price points – in other words, de facto additional versions next-gen Xbox, which uses the software foundation of what it has Microsoft in the plan,
The first hint of this path came in the form of the Xbox Ally project. In the future, there is also talk that Microsoft is preparing its own first-party handheld, which should logically be more technically interesting than Asus' solution. The result of the whole effort should be an ecosystem similar to the Surface family, where there are premium devices directly from Microsoftand at the same time a wide range of offers from partners.
Price and availability
The price of the next-generation Xbox remains a big unknown. Expensive hardware, geopolitical situations, and tariffs play a role. However, behind the scenes speculation is emerging that the premium version of the Xbox Magnus could hit the $1,000 mark.
At the same time, however, there should be cheaper alternatives thanks to OEM partners. Microsoft Additionally, it plans to extend support for the Xbox Series S to remain an accessible entry point into the ecosystem. As for availability, hypothetically we could at least expect a train version to come out of the workshop Microsoftsometime next year. Next variaThird-party-made products will most likely arrive a little later.
