After the Week Microsoft Had You'd Be Forgiven for Believing a Rumor That Xbox Had Canceled Its Next-Gen Hardware Plans, but the Company Insists It's False

Microsoft has issued a connection insisting it remains committed to Xbox consoles aft a caller rumor that it planned to exit the hardware business.

The rumor emerged from an alleged insider who claimed Microsoft’s Xbox hardware plans had go little definite and that the aboriginal of Xbox was bundle publishing — a communal proposition connected societal media and connected forums.

But Microsoft issued a connection implicit the play countering that rumor, telling Windows Central: "We are actively investing successful our aboriginal first-party consoles and devices designed, engineered and built by Xbox. For much details, the assemblage tin revisit our statement announcement with AMD."

The rumor and Microsoft’s connection came aft a bruising week successful which the institution was heavy criticized for raising the terms for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from $19.99 a period to $29.99 a month. Microsoft besides ditched the discount connected DLC for Game Pass subscribers successful favour of accrued Rewards points.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that Microsoft’s determination to merchandise Call of Duty arsenic a time 1 Game Pass rubric has outgo it $300 cardinal successful mislaid sales. That's due to the fact that fans who would person bought Call of Duty nether mean circumstances connected PC oregon Xbox opted to play it done the Game Pass subscription instead. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is acceptable to motorboat arsenic a time 1 Game Pass rubric this November, but subscribers present won’t get 10% disconnected COD Points oregon the BlackCell conflict walk upgrade.

Microsoft’s console hardware plans are nether aggravated scrutiny pursuing its seemingly palmy multiplatform propulsion for its video games and flagging income of the Xbox Series X and S. But successful June, Microsoft announced a concern with AMD to powerfulness the adjacent procreation of Xbox, including its first-party aboriginal Xbox consoles. It was a woody seen arsenic a rubber stamp for the next-generation of Xbox, astatine least.

Microsoft failed to item its plans, but did committedness “next-level performance, cutting-edge graphics, breakthrough gameplay, and unmatched compatibility.” It besides said everything it’s moving connected volition beryllium “fully compatible” with users’ existing Xbox crippled library.

“We’ve established a strategic, multi-year statement with AMD to co-engineer silicon crossed a portfolio of devices, including our next-generation Xbox consoles,” Microsoft said.

“Together, we’re delivering deeper ocular quality, immersive gameplay, and AI-powered experiences - grounded successful a level designed for players, not tied to a azygous store oregon device, and afloat compatible with your existing Xbox crippled library.”

In a video, Xbox president Sarah Bond said Microsoft was investing successful "our next-generation hardware lineup crossed console, handheld, PC, cloud, and accessories."

But bash those plans besides see a first-party Xbox handheld console? Microsoft's gaming brag Phil Spencer has confirmed his involvement successful specified a device, but consequent reports person suggested the thought has been sidelined. We asked Jason Ronald, Microsoft's vice president of Xbox gaming devices and ecosystem, astir Microsoft's interior plans to marque a first-party Xbox handheld backmost successful August.

The outgo of being an Xbox instrumentality has been a blistery taxable successful caller months. After announcing a leap to $80 for its games owed retired this holiday, Microsoft back-tracked to instrumentality with $70 for the likes of The Outer Worlds 2. And conscionable past period Microsoft raised the terms of Xbox consoles successful the U.S. "due to changes successful the macroeconomic environment."

Microsoft likewise raised eyebrows erstwhile it confirmed a $999.99 terms tag for the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally X handheld, and $599.99 for the ROG Xbox Ally.

Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images.

Wesley is Director, News astatine IGN. Find him connected Twitter astatine @wyp100. You tin scope Wesley astatine [email protected] oregon confidentially astatine [email protected].