It’s no secret that Microsoft is working on its next-gen gaming devices, including successors to the Xbox Series X/S and a hybrid gaming PC that could bridge the gap between true consoles and PCs. While many details about those devices are still scarce, we’re at least gaining some insights that shed particular light on how this hybrid device could be positioned and when we can expect it to launch.
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Is Microsoft’s Hybrid Xbox PC Gaming Device Launching First?
This year, Microsoft has confirmed that it is not retiring the Xbox console and promises to bring successors to the current Xbox Series. Beyond the console platform, however, it also hinted that they are investing in other hardware form factors that would also be part of its gaming ecosystem.
While it wasn’t explicitly discussed, one of the major products in this next-gen hardware lineup includes a hybrid Xbox PC. This gaming device was initially rumored to be arriving in 2027 as part of the new generation of Xbox gaming consoles. However, a new, contrasting report suggests this could arrive before the standalone consoles.
This information was shared by YouTuber Colt Eastwood, who cited and analyzed details from multiple sources, including the supposed leaked planned Xbox GDK (Game Development Kit) pipeline.
According to Eastwood, the hybrid Xbox PC console is expected to be released sometime in 2026. This contrasts with earlier reports that it would launch in 2027 alongside the new Xbox consoles.
It also shared other information about the device’s chipset and operating system. First of all, it is believed the device will be built by Microsoft’s partner OEMs like Asus and Lenovo rather than by the company itself. This would put it in a similar approach to the Asus ROG Xbox Ally, which is made by the Taiwanese company.
Meanwhile, the standalone Microsoft Xbox consoles are expected to be ready by 2027, serving as true successors to the Xbox Series X/S and integrating a PC experience.
The Xbox PC Could Run on a Custom Windows OS
It is reported that the hybrid Xbox PC will run on a customized Windows OS, rather than solely on the Xbox system. Specifically, this could boot on a modular Windows 11, similar to the system powering the Asus ROG Xbox Ally. This operating system would enable the Xbox PC to support multi-platform services, such as Steam and Battle.net, as well as Xbox and cloud services, ensuring continued compatibility with existing user libraries of games across various storefronts.
This is where the big advantage will come for the upcoming Xbox PC, an advantage already realized in the new ROG Xbox Ally. These handhelds run on the modular Windows 11 OS, which is not locked to the Xbox system. This allows users to run PC game titles with backward compatibility and enjoy Xbox integration with Game Pass and cloud gaming.
AMD’s Chip to Power the Xbox PC
Based on the supposed Xbox GDK, Microsoft will power the Xbox PC with a customized AMD chipset. The company has already revealed that it has partnered with the chipmaker for powering the next-gen Xbox devices. It’s likely that the graphics in the Xbox PC will use AMD’s RDNA 4 architecture, which is already utilized in the current Radeon RX 9000 graphics cards.
Among the upgrades seen in this new chip is the ability to enable the Xbox PC to run console and PC games smoothly. It is expected that the GPU will offer a 25% performance boost.
Additionally, the source specified that the Xbox PC would initially serve as a testbed for the unified graphics API of Xbox and Windows, which will be used for cross-development of games. This will subsequently help converge the console and PC platforms. With that, the next standalone Xbox console would also likely be based on the same operating system.
Will This Mark a Shift from Console to Hybrid Gaming?
Whether this will signal a transition from traditional console to hybrid console-PC is still too early to tell. However, one thing is clear: Microsoft is not afraid to lead on a new platform. The answer to whether the company will be successful is how gamers will embrace it.
How do you see the future of gaming? Do you think that Microsoft is right to bet on a hybrid Xbox PC, and that Sony, with its PlayStation, should align its strategy? We want to know your opinion.
