When it comes to console gaming, Microsoft is aiming for a new height with the next-gen Xbox promised to be both premium and top-tier. Sarah Bond, the Xbox president, addressed these ambitions in a recent interview, noting that their vision for the console is to deliver a highly curated gaming experience that rivals PC offerings.

“The next-gen console is going to be a very premium, very high-end, curated experience. You’re starting to see some of the thinking that we have in this handheld, but I don’t want to give it all away.”

This refers to the ROG Xbox Ally X, a joint venture aimed at merging console and PC gaming experiences, albeit at a lofty price point of $1,000.

With competition tightening in the gaming sphere, especially against PCs becoming more accessible, this push for premium consoles is an effort to retain market relevance. As Bond remarked, traditional boundaries surrounding gaming devices are rapidly fading, and crossplay is a significant part of their strategy.

This aspiring shift raises questions about the viability of budget-friendly options in the console market; can a premium-priced Xbox retain the loyal player base that once chose consoles for affordability?

Xbox Console

For more discussions on the evolving landscape of gaming and tech innovations, keep an eye on upcoming announcements from Microsoft.