Sony will only be able to offer the PS5 Pro with less current hardware by then.
The first rumors about the next-generation Xbox game console have appeared on the Internet. According to information obtained from various sources, Microsoft is going to introduce it as early as 2026. Earlier it was reported that the release of the console was planned for 2028.
The new Xbox (among the possible variants of the name is Xbox Next), if sources believe, will be based on the processor and graphics architecture AMD Zen 5 and RDNA 5. RDNA 5 has already been mentioned in Microsoft’s “leaked” documents as part of its legal battle with the FTC.
The new generation is also expected to be closely related to neural networks and AI. The hardware part is planned to use various NPUs (Neural Processing Units), while the software part may get refinements from OpenAI, the creators of the ChatGPT chatbot.
If the new Xbox does come out in 2026, by then Sony will only have a PlayStation 5 Pro with less current hardware in its lineup. The PS6 isn’t due to go on sale until 2028, but a change in timing is possible.
Before the release of the notional Xbox Next, the updated Xbox Series X/S is expected to go on sale. They should be presented in October-November 2024. The older console will have a cylindrical body and there will be a version with an SSD for 2 TB. And power consumption will be reduced by 15%.
Nintendo’s next-gen Switch is also coming out sooner than expected. Early rumors suggested that the conventional Switch 2 wouldn’t come out until the fall of 2024, but now it’s expected to release early in the year.
There are reports that two versions will be available at launch: a regular one with an LCD panel and a more expensive one with a bright OLED. It is expected that the second generation Switch will boast graphics of the level of PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series. Also, the new Switch will have backwards compatibility with current games.
This year, Nintendo Switch received three strong exclusives: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and the Metroid Prime remaster. All three games received scores above 90% and are sure to garner a bunch of GOTY nominations later in the year.
