In the midst of a wave of speculation about the future of Xbox as a hardware manufacturerMicrosoft has come out to deny that it's abandoning consoles. Recent price and service moves have raised alarm bells, but the company insists its device roadmap remains active.
Official sources consulted by specialized media confirm that Investment in new consoles and proprietary equipment continues, and they also point to the strategic alliance with AMD as a pillar for the next generation. With this, the discussion moves from rumors to the gaming division's concrete plans.
Rumors of withdrawal and official response
Over the last few days, versions have been circulating that pointed to a complete shift towards software and the cloud, but Microsoft has publicly denied. In statements shared with journalists from Windows Central, the company assures that it is working on its next consoles and devices designed and manufactured by Xbox, a line that has not been cancelled.
This positioning also responds to comments from insiders who spoke of plans "up in the air." Far from that idea, the company refers to its agreement with AMD to make it clear that there is next-generation hardware in preparation and that the console, PC and cloud ecosystem will continue to coexist.
What Xbox is preparing with AMD: codenames and priorities
The multi-year agreement with AMD has been presented as the technological basis for the next Xbox desktop and portable devices. In this context, it has been revealed code names like Kennan, Omni, and Horseman, associated with new teams within the ecosystem. Beyond labels, the roadmap aims to strengthen graphics performance, AI and backward compatibility.
The collaboration includes both traditional consoles and portable proposals, with the idea of maintaining the current library and giving continuity to key ecosystem functions (accessories, services and cloud) in a coordinated manner.
Current hardware status: production and stores
Despite reports of stock withdrawals at certain retailers, sources close to the project indicate that Xbox Series X|S manufacturing continues normallyThe occasional withdrawal of consoles in some chains does not translate into a global stoppage, and the next-generation hardware plans remain active.
The company, as it has told the press, sees hardware as an essential part of its offering, along with PCs and the cloud. There are no official signs of a shift that would involve abandoning physical consoles.
Game Pass, pricing, and the role of the cloud
Last week saw a significant increase in subscription rates, with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at €27 per month. In addition, Microsoft is preparing a Free Xbox Cloud Gaming plan with ads that would allow playing after viewing ads. These decisions have sparked debate about the service's direction and accessibility.
According to analyses published by media outlets such as Bloomberg, the price adjustment would seek to offset revenue pressure linked to large-caliber releases on the service. Some estimates from the specialized press put the annual cost of playing day-one releases at much higher figures than before, rising to approximately 144 to 324 € with the new models, which has caused cancellations and complaints from part of the community.
Hardware and Accessory Prices: A Bigger Picture
In parallel to the changes in Game Pass, there have also been price increases on consoles and controllers. In several markets, Xbox Series S|X increased by around €50, and standard controllers went from €60 to €65, with special editions on top. These tweaks have been met with skepticism, especially since they aren't accompanied by any obvious hardware improvements.
This context has fueled the conversation about Xbox's business strategy, which, on the one hand, strengthens services and cloud, and on the other maintains its investment in physical devices facing the next generation.
Portable ecosystem: ROG Xbox Ally X arrives early for some users
The collaboration with ASUS also adds noise to the debate: several buyers have reported that they received the ROG Xbox Ally X weeks in advance, apparently due to a logistical error by Amazon France. Although this is partner hardware, this move is part of Amazon's strategy. bring the Xbox experience to Windows laptops optimized for gaming.
The first impressions circulating describe a console that is more comfortable in hand and with autonomy improvement. There's talk of demanding sessions of over 3 hours at 17W, a quiet and well-cooled system, and a grip that feels "like an Xbox controller."
In performance, users report that the average gain compared to previous models is around 5 to 10 fps, with most games running at 900p/1080p on medium/high settings at 35‑40 fps at 25W. With techniques like Lossless Scaling or FSR In Quality, some claim to reach close to 80 fps in compatible titles.
Among the buts are the somewhat small screen for certain tastes and limitations of the full-screen “Xbox mode” to add content that does not come from supported PC stores. The X model is sold at €899, while the cheapest variant is around €599, positioning itself against alternatives such as the Steam Deck.
What to expect in the short and medium term
With the official position on the table, the roadmap combines investment in new consoles, technological alliances with AMD and expansion of cloud services. The division adjusts prices and experiments with formats such as a free plan with ads, while the ecosystem opens up to portable devices of partners.
Although the public conversation remains marked by uncertainty, what Microsoft has outlined points to a future where hardware, PC and cloud coexist. The key questions remain regarding release timing, tangible improvements, and how costs and user value will be balanced.
The picture left by all this is clear: despite the rumors, Xbox is not abandoning the hardware; keeps its current consoles running, prepares for a new generation with AMD, and explores portable formats, while reconfiguring prices and services to sustain the business without closing the door to those who prefer to play on a home device.
