The Next-Gen Xbox Will Be a 'Premium, High-End' Console, Sarah Bond Hints at
Xbox President Sarah Bond made the statement that the next-generation Xbox is going to be in the making as the console turns to hardware. In an interview recently held, she described the new console as being a "very premium, very high-end, curated experience," which could mean a very big jump for the platform.
Indications About a Console-PC Blend
When asked during a chat with Mashable about the report about the next Xbox being a hybrid console that blends the experience of a traditional console with that of a PC like the ASUS ROG Ally X, which can play Xbox titles, Bond kept it very hush-hush.
While not giving out the company's intentions in a clear way, Bond answered quite illuminatingly–"Well, I can tell you you're right, that the next-gen console is going to be a very premium, very high-end, curated experience," she confirmed.
Pointing to the ROG Ally X, which was developed in collaboration with Xbox, she added, "You're starting to see some of the thinking that we have in this handheld, but I don't want to give it all away."
What may 'Premium and High-End' mean
According to Bond's description, the next Xbox will probably aim for the most prestigious segment of the console market, thereby evoking powerful internal components and an even higher price tag. The most interesting part of her statement, however, was the reference to the ROG Ally.
That may suggest, though, that Microsoft is pursuing a more open ecosystem with the next console. Access and playability of game libraries from numerous digital storefronts will possibly redefine the role of the console while making it more versatile in its functions as an entertainment hub.
While details remain under wraps, the comments do hint at a tactical turn towards a powerful and potentially more flexible hardware future.
