Here’s Why We’re Excited About the Next Microsoft Xbox Gaming Console
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
Microsoft made a big announcement during last year’s E3 gaming expo: The tech giant confirmed the next-generation of Xbox is in development.
Whatever comes out of the massive project — codenamed Scarlett — will be in strong competition with the hotly anticipated Sony PlayStation 5 gaming console, which may or may not be underway as well.
Unsurprisingly, the announcement unleashed a steady stream of rumors. After hours of reading through countless reports, here are the most exciting rumored bits about the tech giant’s yet-to-be-revealed gaming rig.
There Are Two Variants on the Way
There will be not one, but two new Xbox gaming consoles, according to a report by Windows Central.
They include an entry-level variant with the codename Lockhart, as well as a range-topping model with mode power and features. The latter carries the codename Anaconda.
It’s all but guaranteed that the upcoming gaming consoles will offer more processing power and vastly superior graphics performance, courtesy of a dedicated GPU. The official names of both consoles are yet to be revealed, though “Microsoft Xbox Two,” with added letters depending on the model, appears to be a likely candidate.
We’ll Catch a Glimpse of It During E3 in June, But Can’t Buy It Until 2020
A recent report suggests that Microsoft will give us a glimpse of the upcoming duo of gaming consoles during this year’s E3 gaming convention. The large industry event is set to take place in Los Angeles this coming June. Sony announced that it doesn’t plan to participate, so Microsoft will deservedly be able to command all the attention.
But rumors suggest that the gaming consoles will hit the shelves in time for the 2020 holiday shopping season. That’ll be well over a year after their allegedly scheduled unveiling, so you'll have plenty of time to make up your mind if you want one (and to start saving up in case you do).
In the meantime, Microsoft is tipped to unveil an Xbox One S iteration without a disc drive. The gaming rig will be reasonably priced, thus giving buyers option to seamlessly access high-quality gaming and home entertainment features. We might see it make a debut as early as next month.
Cloud-Based Gaming Will Be a Big Deal
Cloud-based gaming will be a major new feature of the next Xbox gaming console. A direct answer to Sony’s own PlayStation Now, the service will allow you to access your favorite games on devices other than your gaming console, including smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
Allegedly, the service will allow you to connect a wireless Xbox controller to your smartphone for complete gameplay control. The tech giant confirmed during E3 last year that the service is in the works.
It'll Have Full Backward Compatibility With Older Xbox Titles
This is hardly a surprise to us. Like all currently available Xbox One gaming consoles, their successors are rumored to have full compatibility with older gaming titles. This means that if you have amassed a vast collection of Xbox 360 and Xbox One games, you'll be able to still access and enjoy them on the latest Microsoft hardware.
It'll Be Accompanied By Exclusive Gaming Titles
Like all gaming consoles by Microsoft, the next Xbox will be accompanied by an excellent selection of exclusive gaming titles, tuned to take full advantage of its cutting-edge hardware. They'll include a new installment of the legendary Halo franchise. We wouldn't be surprised to see a new Forza Motorsport iteration among the selection of games as well.
You can expect the upcoming gaming titles to be compatible with Windows 10 gaming PCs as well. The feature is currently available on a number of top-rated Xbox One games, so it shouldn’t be a surprise.
Read More:
The Best Gaming Headsets for Your New Console
Essential Xbox One Accessories You Need to Know About
The Top Gaming Consoles on the Market Right Now
Follow BestProducts.com on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!
You Might Also Like
