Summary
- In a new leak, it was revealed Xbox may plan to release refreshed versions of the Xbox Series X and S consoles with improved features and design.
- A leaked email from Phil Spencer has expressed intentions to acquire gaming companies, including Nintendo and Valve, showcasing Xbox's ambition for expansion and growth.
- Leaked release schedules and documents may be outdated, but they reveal Xbox's plans for game titles and remasters.
The Xbox Microsoft merger saga continues with a new set of leaks allegedly revealing the company's strategies for the future. In addition to unveiling plans for game titles and remasters, the leaks included information on refreshes of the Xbox current generation consoles, the Xbox Series X and S, and alleged intentions to acquire more gaming companies, including Nintendo. While not all the information revealed was up-to-date, it potentially gives the public a glimpse into Xbox and Microsoft's plans for the future.
This leak was part of the ongoing FTC case regarding the merger between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard. As part of the case, a slide deck was accidentally leaked in a since-deleted Phil Spencer FTC document. The leaks were up long enough for some to screen capture the information, which quickly spread across the internet.
7 Xbox S/X Is Getting A Refresh
As part of the full slide deck obtained by The Verge, plans for Microsoft and Xbox were laid out and included two new consoles codenamed Brooklin and Ellewood. Brooklin will be an Xbox Series X refresh with 4K Gen9 gaming, more storage, and a new, smaller, cylindrical form factor. According to the documents, this new version of the Xbox X will also include 2TB of internal storage and will allegedly cost the same as the Xbox X at $499.
The Ellewood, or Xbox Series S refresh, looks very similar to the current model but uses 20% less power in standby mode and includes improved technology, including Wi-Fi 6E, for a smoother wireless gaming experience. While an improvement over the current Xbox S, the company seems to be emphasizing updating their more console, as the changes in the Xbox S Ellewood don't seem as significant, specifically in its design. According to the documents, the desired launch date for the Xbox Series S refresh is September 2025, while the launch of the Xbox X refresh is scheduled for a bit later in the year, in November.
6 Xbox's Phil Spencer Really Wants To Buy Nintendo
According to a leaked 2020 email from gaming journalist Stephen Totilo via Twitter, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer revealed intentions of acquiring additional gaming companies. Specifically, in the email, Spencer states, "I don't see an angle to a near term mutually agreeable merge of Nintendo and MS and I don't think a hostile action would be a good move so we are playing the long game." In addition to the mention of Nintendo, Spencer also referenced a possible merger or acquisition of Valve.
While the email may not be as valid three years later in 2023, it still demonstrates that Microsoft and Xbox hope to expand their hold on the gaming market, reinforced by the ongoing merger with Activision Blizzard. While the goal of merging or purchasing Nintendo seems far-fetched, it may not be as unreasonable as many would think, as Spencer also references acquiring Zenimax, which Xbox Games Studios purchased in 2021.
5 Xbox Leaked Release Schedule May Be Outdated
In addition to the leaks pertaining to the new Xbox X/S consoles and peripherals, an alleged document that was also leaked as part of the FTC case lays out the company's plans for titles to be released in the coming years. However — this document is likely old, as many planned releases, including Starfield and Redfall's planned release in the fiscal year of 2021, never actually came to fruition.
Of note, high-profile games included in the image also included The Elder Scrolls VI, Dishonored 3, and a Ghostwire: Tokyo Sequel — all of which were scheduled to release in 2024. In addition to those follow-ups, there is also mention of an Indiana Jones game releasing in 2022 and two unnamed projects called Project Kestrel and Project Platinum. While the dates may be off in certain cases, it shows the company's aim to develop those franchises in the future if they aren't already in development.
4 Remasters Are Likely On The Way
The document lists several remasters for highly popular games. According to the leak, these include a Fallout 3 Remaster, scheduled to release in 2024, and an Oblivion Remaster slated to release in 2022. Again, as the other development cycles went far over schedule, there's a good chance that the community will have to wait to get official confirmation from Xbox that the games are currently under development.
3 Xbox Controllers Go Modular
In line with recent trends for some to customize their controllers, Xbox's leaks included mention of an updated controller, codenamed Sebile. This new model has a slightly updated design to the current Xbox Elite Wireless Controller, with the addition of new modular thumbsticks so s can swap them out.
The controller will also apparently be able to seamlessly pair and switch between devices, something that the current peripheral can't do, as re-pairing Bluetooth between devices is necessary each time s switch platforms. The same leaked document emphasizes customization and personalization when it comes to hardware, which ties in with the new modular thumb sticks that may be available in the future.
2 Xbox May Introduce More First-Party Peripherals
In addition to the new Sebile Xbox controller, the company is also working on additional peripherals to improve customer choice and accessibility. According to the documents, the company has plans to add another controller tier called . Xbox and Microsoft also have plans for a one-handed and mobile controller, which should improve accessibility.
Those who prefer aiming and gaming with a keyboard and mouse might receive their wish, as it was also revealed that the company might emphasize compatibility with the peripherals. Currently, while there is access to mouse and keyboard on Xbox, many games — including titles on their popular cloud service — do not include , so greater integration with them would be helpful for those who prefer mouse & keyboard. The leaked documents also revealed plans for a new headset platform, though details on it were slim at best.
1 An Xbox Handheld May Be In The Works
Perhaps the most exciting piece of news with the latest leak information was the revelation that Xbox may be working on a new handheld device. While these plans may very well be for the Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld, which was released in October 2022, it may also be evidence that Microsoft is planning to create its own handheld.
Xbox has already heavily invested in cloud gaming, and creating an affordable low-profile Xbox handheld integrated with Xbox cloud services could create a product that could potentially compete with the Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch. One detail of note included a key strategic decision regarding a "Thin OS" for an under $99 consumer or handheld device, further pointing toward the idea that a cloud-centric gaming handheld may be in the works for the company. Only time will tell how Microsoft and Xbox respond to the leaks, but there is a chance that official announcements are coming in the near future.
