Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has officially announced plans for the next-generation Xbox console, ending the long-standing uncertainty. The company confirmed that the Xbox brand will continue its hardware-focused approach.

The New Xbox is Official

Previously, Xbox President Sarah Bond stated that they are “developing new hardware for the future.” Now, in an interview with Famitsu, Spencer clarified that the new hardware following the Xbox Series X|S will be developed by Microsoft’s in-house engineering team.

This statement puts to rest speculation, sparked by Microsoft’s ROG Ally collaboration with Asus, that the next-generation console could be developed by other manufacturers.

Spencer stated that the Asus-developed ROG Ally series is part of the Xbox ecosystem, but emphasized that Microsoft will continue its first-party hardware line. This means the next-generation console will not be an outsourced design.

According to reports, the next-generation Xbox console is expected to launch around 2027. It seems highly unlikely that Microsoft will release a new first-party product under its own brand in the handheld console segment by this time.

Meanwhile, rival Sony is known to be working on both a portable and a classic console at the same time. Both the new Xbox and Sony’s PS6 console are reportedly expected to utilize custom APU solutions developed jointly with AMD.

However, current rumors suggest that the Xbox will be more powerful than the PS6. Confirmation of this power output will likely require some time.