Next-Gen Xbox: Full Windows, Free Multiplayer, and PC Hybrid

Microsoft’s Next Xbox: Your Entire Console Library, Full PC Power, and No Multiplayer Paywall

Microsoft is preparing for a radical strategic shift with its next-generation Xbox console, aiming to blur the lines between console and PC gaming, according to a major report from Windows Central. The new system, internally codenamed “Magnus” and reportedly targeting a 2027 launch, is set to be a premium, high-end, PC-console hybrid that promises the most ambitious hardware leap in the brand’s history for players across the globe.  

A True Windows PC with a Console Heart

The most significant change lies in the operating system, which leverages feedback gathered from the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds.  

• Full Windows OS: The next Xbox will run on a full version of Windows. A TV-optimized, console-style interface—the “Xbox Full Screen Experience”—will be layered on top, ensuring the device feels like a traditional Xbox console right out of the box.  
• Access to Competing Storefronts: Users will have the option to exit the Xbox ecosystem and access the full Windows desktop. This flexibility allows players to run third-party game launchers, including Steam, the Epic Games Store, Battle.net, and GOG. This means players could potentially run PlayStation’s PC titles like God of War and Spider-Man, or even productivity apps like Microsoft Office.  
• Simplified Experience: Despite the Windows foundation, Microsoft is focused on eliminating common PC gaming frustrations, such as shader compilation delays, to maintain a seamless, console-like gaming experience.  

The End of the Multiplayer Paywall

In a major consumer-friendly move, the long-standing requirement for a paid subscription (currently Game Pass Core) to access online multiplayer for non-free-to-play titles is expected to be removed for the new console.  

• PC Logic: This change is seen as a necessary move. Since the new hardware will function as a PC, where online multiplayer is typically free, charging a subscription would incentivize users to use rival storefronts like Steam instead of the native Xbox ecosystem.  
• Current Plan: Reports indicate the current plan is specifically for the next Xbox to have no paywall for multiplayer, ending a practice that has defined Xbox gaming for two decades.  

The ROG Xbox Ally, which combines console and PC, despite the Xbox name, is free to play online games like a PC.

Total Backward Compatibility and AI Enhancement

The new console will serve as a universal hub, making an unprecedented commitment to game library preservation.  

• Full Library Support: The system will offer full backward compatibility with the entire Xbox console library, including titles from the original Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and the Xbox Series X|S. These games will run natively, not via cloud streaming, and launch seamlessly through the Xbox launcher.  
• AI-Powered Boosts: New silicon from AMD will power the console, featuring AI-powered technologies like Auto Super Resolution and next-gen frame generation to enhance the visuals and performance of legacy Xbox Series X|S games.  

This ambitious strategy positions the next Xbox as a highly versatile device aimed at unifying the PC and console gaming worlds.  

 origin: Windows Central