Microsoft has not committed to a potential 2027 launch window for the next generation of Xbox consoles, per a February 8 insider report. With Microsoft still mulling when the next-gen Xbox console will reach store shelves, the company's decision could give the current-gen Xbox Series X/S consoles a longer lifespan than expected.
So far, most details about the next-gen Xbox console have come from outside Microsoft. Although the tech giant has confirmed that it is developing a new Xbox system in cooperation with AMD, Microsoft has kept a tight lid on what the system is capable of. However, both Microsoft and AMD have stated that the new console would use a semi-custom system on a chip (SoC) that is on track to launch sometime in 2027. Additionally, the next-gen Xbox console would integrate Windows 11 in some capacity, and that the system would be backward compatible with Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and older Xbox console games.
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Xbox Game Pass subscribers definitely need to make sure that they circle Friday, February 13 on their calendars.
Microsoft's Next-Gen Xbox Has No Exact Launch Window Yet
Despite AMD's claims that Microsoft could launch the next-gen Xbox system in 2027, that may not necessarily be the case. According to a new report from insider Jez Corden, Microsoft has not committed to a hard 2027 launch window of the next Xbox console. Corden stated that Microsoft's next console depends on improvements to Windows 11, and that the Windows and Xbox development teams were working to get the new console's operating system in a polished state. Ergo, a 2027 launch for the next-gen Xbox console would be an optimistic window that Microsoft could still hit, though some ongoing factors remain at play.
It is no secret that the DRAM crisis has had a widespread impact on the gaming and tech industries. With prices on RAM kits, solid-state drives (SSDs) and other essential components increasing to ridiculous amounts, the costs have been passed on to consumers. In 2025, Microsoft increased the price of the Xbox Series X/S twice due to the US government's tariffs on various goods manufactured across the globe. With the RAM crisis already putting some companies in a bind, the rising costs could shift the next generation of Xbox and PlayStation consoles outside a 2027 launch window. With the next-gen Xbox potentially costing more money to sell under the current market conditions, Microsoft could hold off on releasing its new console until conditions stabilize.
Microsoft Still Has Plans For The Current Generation
However, this could also be a saving grace for gamers with a current-gen console, as the crisis could force Microsoft to support the Xbox Series X/S for a few more years at the minimum. As for Microsoft's short-term outlook, the company is looking for ways to expand Xbox Game Pass services. Along with upcoming features, such as an ad-supported tier for Xbox Cloud Gaming, Microsoft could merge the Xbox Game Pass Premium tier with the PC Game Pass subscription into one offer. Alternatively, Microsoft could offer more third-party services with Xbox Game Pass. Although services like EA Play and Ubisoft+ are available via Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft has not stated which additional third-party subscriptions could be brought into the fold.
Despite the next-gen Xbox still being years away from launching, the Xbox Series X/S still has some games lined up to launch throughout 2026. Between first-party Xbox Game Studios releases like Fable, and third-party hits like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the calendar year for Xbox consoles continues to fill up. Additionally, Microsoft will keep expanding its releases to other systems, as proven by the upcoming Switch 2 ports of Fallout 4, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered. However, time will tell how effective Microsoft's plans will be as it continues development of the next Xbox console.