Xbox Consoles: Series X/S
The Xbox 360, the successor to the original Xbox console, was released in November 2005. Since its release, over 85 million Xbox 360 units have been sold, making it the most popular Xbox console of all time. Following on from the Xbox 360 came the Xbox One, first released in November 2013. This device was part of the eighth generation of video game consoles and competed directly with Sony’s PlayStation 4 console. Microsoft released its latest video consoles in 2020, the Xbox Series X and Series S, only two days before the release of the PlayStation 5. These current-generation consoles were both released with solid-state drives to improve loading times as well as a 4K resolution, with support for up to 120 frames per second for the Series X. The Xbox Series S, meanwhile, was released as a digital-only model featuring a disc-less form factor, putting it in direct competition with Sony’s PS5 Digital Edition.In September 2023, the FTC case against Microsoft resulted in a leak of information that revealed major and significant developments about the next generation of Xbox. The documents from the case unveiled Microsoft’s plans for a new digital disc-less Xbox Series X and a new Xbox controller slated for a 2024 release date. The documents also hinted at Microsoft’s ambitious plans for its next-generation console. The company envisions achieving a “hybrid game platform” that will enable convergence between its cloud gaming platform and physical hardware, leading to the delivery of “cloud hybrid games” promising deeper immersion and new standards of gaming experiences.