Summary
- Microsoft is hiring for roles hinting at the future of Xbox consoles, including graphics development possibly for the next generation.
- Despite concerns, Microsoft seems to still be invested in developing new Xbox consoles and is promising a significant technical leap in the next iteration.
- While Xbox continues to focus on software and cloud gaming, job listings point towards ongoing development of new hardware.
Microsoft has published multiple new job listings on its website, with one in particular hinting at what the future of Xbox consoles could look like. With the current generation of Xbox hardware now fast approaching its fourth year on the market, Microsoft appears to have a clear vision in mind when it comes to what's next for the studio's upcoming console.
While Xbox appears to be thriving on the software side of things, even doubling down on cloud gaming, sales for Xbox consoles continue to fall. Despite this, the studio appears to remain heavily invested in its hardware and looks set to continue to develop new consoles and go head-to-head with the likes of Sony's PlayStation. Xbox President Sarah Bond even said in February that the next generation of Xbox consoles would deliver the "largest technical leap" ever in a hardware generation, making it clear that Xbox is going all out for its next piece of hardware.
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As spotted by Pure Xbox, Microsoft has published a plethora of new job listings on its devblog, with one listing in particular hinting at Xbox's ambitions for its next generation of console. While there are a magnitude of different roles available at Xbox, the studio is currently searching for an individual to join its graphics department. According to the listing, the individual will be required to work closely with hardware engineers and game developers to "define the future of graphics and game development."
Microsoft Listing Hints at Future Xbox Console
The listing does not specifically mention a next-generation console, so there's even the possibility that the right individual could be working on the heavily rumored Xbox handheld console. But given that Sarah Bond has already gone on record and stated that the studio's next generation of console will see the largest technical leap ever, it seems like a logical assumption that this role will likely be working on the next big Xbox console.
For quite a while now, there have been concerns among Xbox fans that the Series X/S would be the last consoles to come out of the studio. With sales falling and once-Xbox-exclusive titles continuing to jump ship to PlayStation, it was beginning to seem increasingly likely that Microsoft was pivoting toward a more software-focused approach to its gaming department.
Aside from bringing Xbox titles like Sea of Thieves and Hi-Fi Rush to PlayStation 5, Microsoft also appears to be investing heavily in cloud gaming. In July, Xbox Cloud Gaming made its way to Fire TV devices, further allowing gamers to check out a plethora of Xbox titles without even needing a console. But despite all of these efforts to allow users to play games without actually needing to own an Xbox, it looks like Microsoft is continuing to work on the next generation of consoles.
- Brand
- Microsoft
- Original Release Date
- November 10, 2020
- Hardware Versions
- Xbox Series X
- Original MSRP (USD)
- $499
- Weight
- 9.8 LBS
- Operating System
- Proprietary (Windows-based)
Microsoft's ninth-generation console, the Xbox Series X is a powerful machine that can support 4K resolution and 60 fps, depending on the game. Released alongside the Xbox Series S, the Series X has a Custom AMD Zen 2 CPU, a Custom RDNA 2 GPU, and 16 GB of RAM.
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