Next Xbox in 2027 is only the best-case scenario

Microsoft may not be as ready for the next generation as the market imagined. After AMD's CEO, Lisa Su, suggested during a financial report that the new custom chip is progressing towards a 2027 launch, Windows Central brought a cold shower. It seems that the division led by Sarah Bond was caught off guard by the comment, treating 2027 only as a "best possible scenario". The technical hurdle lies in Windows 11, which will serve as the base for the console's operating system and still needs extreme polishing to ensure an acceptable user experience.

The proposal for this hardware is ambitious: to function as a hybrid of console and PC, allowing access to multiple stores. Steve Allison, from Epic Games, has already confirmed to Game File that the company intends to be present on day one, adapting its platform to Microsoft's requirements. This is excellent news for those who want to run their library from the Epic Games Store or Steam on living room hardware, but the dependence on a stable Windows makes the 2027 schedule a risky bet.

From a critical standpoint, Microsoft seems to be at a software crossroads. It's interesting to note that while Sony is considering delaying the PlayStation 6 beyond 2028 to extend the life of the PS5, Xbox is trying to rush to be the first, but stumbling on its own inability to optimize Windows. If the console is released with a buggy or unstable interface just to meet deadlines, we will have a technical negative point that not even the "greatest technological leap in history" — promised by Sarah Bond — will be able to save.

The confirmed support from Epic Games is reassuring, but the idea of a "Windows console" sends shivers to those who remember the usability issues of current portable devices. In the end, Microsoft wants to deliver the freedom of PC with the convenience of a console, but if the operating system is not mature by 2027, the launch runs the risk of being a logistical and user experience disaster. It's better to delay and deliver something functional than to try to beat Sony with unfinished software.