Microsoft Gaming head Phil Spencer says that more Xbox consoles are on the way, but players shouldn't expect an Xbox Series X Pro. As Sony rolls out its mid-generation console, Xbox fans have wondered if something similar to the PlayStation 5 Pro could be in the pipeline at Microsoft, with the answer now being a resounding "no."

In late October, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella confirmed that Xbox would pursue a multiplatform strategy, with first-party titles slated to make their way to PlayStation and Nintendo consoles in the future. While some are excited about the studio's work becoming available to more players, many Xbox fans have concerns about the future of the platform, as even representative titles like Halo may no longer be exclusive to Microsoft hardware. A new interview has put any fears to rest, as Xbox CEO Phil Spencer still sees a bright future for the brand's consoles.

In a chat with Rolling Stone, Spencer confirmed that new Xbox consoles and other devices would be released in the future despite the company's multiplatform push. When asked why no Xbox equivalent to the PlayStation 5 Pro had been announced, the executive explained that he couldn't justify releasing a mid-generation console this time around, as any improvements made would be minimal. He also stressed the importance of releasing something that would create value for consumers. "[It’s] less like the old days, going from the original Xbox to 360; that was standard definition to high definition," Spencer said. "Now, [it’s] harder to show the benefits. We’re not going to grow the market with $1,000 consoles."

Released on November 7, the PlayStation 5 Pro costs a whopping $700, prompting many gamers to ask whether the upgraded console was worth the price. Sony's pricey console includes 2TB of SSD storage and an upgraded GPU, enhancing titles with advanced ray tracing capabilities and AI upscaling via Sony's PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution). The new hardware also improves the performance of over 8,500 PlayStation 4 titles. A select few titles even support 8K mode, and more titles may add this impressive feature in the future. Despite these improvements, many gamers still aren't sold on the hardware, a good indication that Xbox's decision not to release a Pro console was the right choice financially.

Spencer has confirmed that a handheld Xbox console is currently in the works, but fans shouldn't expect it anytime soon. The company is still prototyping the hardware as it aims to improve the player experience on existing handhelds before delving too deep into its own. According to a well-known leaker, the Xbox handheld device may be announced sometime in 2025, though the device itself may still be years away. 10th-generation consoles are expected to arrive around 2028, and as the new year approaches, fans are beginning to become eager for news on what to expect later this decade.

Posted: Nov 20, 2024 10:33 pm
Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Source: https://gamerant.com/xbox-pro-console-phil-spencer-comment/