For years, Xbox has been inching closer to the PC space, but the next generation may represent the clearest break yet from the traditional console model.
According to new information, Microsoft is exploring a significant overhaul of Xbox hardware that could narrow the gap between consoles and computers.
The next Xbox is rumored to abandon a custom console operating system in favor of a Windows-first base, highlighting Microsoft’s push to redefine Xbox as a platform that extends beyond a single box under the TV.
If true, the move could redefine ownership, compatibility, and what buying an Xbox actually represents.
What Is Microsoft Reportedly Planning for the Next Xbox?
Microsoft’s next Xbox is increasingly being framed as less of a traditional “closed” console and more of a purpose-built gaming PC that still behaves like an Xbox where it matters.
Windows Central says Microsoft plans to use full Windows on the next Xbox, with a controller-driven Full Screen Experience through the Xbox PC app that turns the TV interface into an Xbox layer running on top of Windows.
This connects directly to the earlier push for Windows 11 to support full-screen Xbox app behavior, letting users flip between a desktop-like environment and a console-like mode, except this time Microsoft would be designing the device from the ground up to make that console mode the default.
The reports also repeatedly point to Microsoft’s ongoing AMD partnership as a key pillar of the plan, with the idea being that AMD-backed hardware plus Microsoft’s platform work can support a Windows-based Xbox that still feels consistent for couch play, while also moving the ecosystem closer to PC-style flexibility.
How Would This Be Different from a Normal Gaming PC?
According to the rumor, backward compatibility is the defining difference between the “Xbox-PC hybrid” and a standard Windows gaming PC, particularly its ability to run Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S games.
The promise to bring existing libraries forward is treated as foundational and reinforced by Xbox’s broader messaging on ownership and cross-generation compatibility.
Other iterations of the report mention AI-powered enhancements as part of the next-generation plan, hinting that Microsoft aims to lean into modern techniques such as performance boosts, image reconstruction, and advanced platform features while continuing to market the system as the most powerful Xbox-style experience.
At the same time, the reporting blends firm assertions with careful caveats, mentioning possible “Xbox”-branded OEM hardware or an OEM “Xbox PC” in a similar timeframe, while stressing that these ideas should be treated cautiously until Microsoft confirms them.
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