Will there ever be a new Xbox gaming console?
Amid the increase in Xbox Game Passes, the company may also implement some adjustments to its hardware.
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Amid the increase in Xbox Game Passes, the company may also implement some adjustments to its hardware.
Just last week, Microsoft announced some changes by introducing Xbox Game Pass, which includes three plans: Essential, Premium, and Ultimate.
While the two plans didn’t include a price change, the Ultimate pass tier had a $10 a month price hike, which enraged some Xbox users.
As SneakerSO notes, besides the pricing update, the company may implement some more changes in 2026.
They report that the company may no longer be releasing new Xbox consoles. Microsoft was supposed to launch one in 2026, but according to the leaker, that’s no longer the case.
They also noted that Costco is no longer selling the Xbox, and more retailers will soon discontinue the gaming console.
If the company no longer plans to release new hardware, what will it offer to its users? Microsoft may shift to cloud gaming, which could be accessed through an Xbox Game Pass subscription.
With cloud gaming, the company may focus on the gaming titles that bring the most profit, such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Minecraft, and more.
It’s also been speculated that Game Pass prices will increase even more in the future. The company could also release all of its software in any market where users are willing to buy it.
The news that Microsoft scrapped the new console started a discussion online, with some users blaming Xbox executives.
“Phil is taking Xbox to a better place, telling it to dream of all the games it was going to have,” wrote one user referring to Phil Spencer, the CEO of Microsoft Gaming.
“That dream is happening soon. Soon it'll all be wonderful. Poor Xbox didn't even hear the shot or the birds flying after.”
“Xbox is dying. Not with a bang, but with a sad whimper,” added another netizen.
“My worry is this would mean less competition for PlayStation and they can charge more,” another Redditor noted.
A few months ago, Microsoft drew the public’s attention by laying off more than 9,000 employees at Xbox Game Studios.
The situation escalated even further when the executive of Xbox Game Studios Publishing, Matt Turnbull, shared a LinkedIn post encouraging those who lost their jobs to seek help from artificial intelligence.
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