New generation of Xbox can run Steam natively

It seems that Microsoft is willing to abandon the traditional boundaries between consoles and PCs. Recent information indicates that the next generation of Xbox is expected to allow the installation and native use of Steam, as well as other platforms, turning the console into a true living room PC.

The foundation of this change would be a new architecture, closer to conventional computers, planned for the next flagship model in the line, with an expected release date of 2027. The proposal is to adopt an open system approach, allowing access to stores like Steam and Epic Games Store, with a focus on backward compatibility and full integration with the Windows ecosystem.

In addition to the traditional console, Microsoft is also said to be developing a portable device, the Project Kennan, in partnership with ASUS, which would hit the market in late 2025. The laptop will run Windows, with support for third-party app installation and a unified look with other products from the brand, including TVs and tablets.

Journalist Jez Corden, from Windows Central, emphasizes that the central concept of the company's new generation of consoles is precisely convergence: hardware based on x86 architecture, Windows operating system, and interface adapted for use on televisions. The result would be a machine capable of running PC games and programs, but with an optimized experience for the console audience.

Speculations gained strength after the discovery of an internal application called "Steam Developer Beta", identified by the insider eXtas1s. Available only to company collaborators, the software appears as a component of the Microsoft Store on test devices, suggesting that integration with Steam is in the experimentation phase.

Another relevant indication came from a post on the official Microsoft blog, which was quickly deleted. The image released showed an Xbox interface with a dedicated Steam tab, displayed on various devices – from TVs to tablets and laptops – suggesting a universal and accessible environment on any screen.

If the plans materialize, the next generation of Xbox could be the first to completely break away from the closed model of traditional consoles, offering players unrestricted access to multiple platforms and libraries, in an increasingly unified ecosystem with Windows. It remains to be seen whether this openness will be well received by partner studios and, especially, by users, who may face a new paradigm of game consumption and installation on the console.