The future of Xbox is set to be clarified in a press conference this week, ending speculation over the console’s future.
Over the past month, there have been rampant rumors surrounding the gaming platform, with players wanting some reassurance from parent company Microsoft.
We reported that a press event would be scheduled to break this silence after Head of Xbox Phil Spencer posted to X (formerly Twitter) last week:
We’re listening and we hear you. We’ve been planning a business update event for next week, where we look forward to sharing more details with you about our vision for the future of Xbox. Stay tuned.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) February 5, 2024
When will Xbox announcement take place?
Microsoft has set a date to update gamers at 3pm EST on Wednesday, February 14 via the Xbox official podcast.
The social channel posted that Xbox President Sarah Bond and Matt Booty, Head of Xbox Games Studio will join CEO Spencer on the announcement panel.
Please join us for a special edition of the Official Xbox Podcast.
Hear from Phil Spencer, Sarah Bond and Matt Booty as they share updates on the Xbox business. pic.twitter.com/TxwWJVUbgx
— Xbox (@Xbox) February 12, 2024
The marquee event has been the result of suspicions that console exclusives like Sea of Thieves, Starfield and Hi-fi Rush might be moving to pastures new.
Hi-Fi Rush information leaked at the beginning of this month showing different branding that earmarked a move to the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, as reported the Verge.
Microsoft has a host of titles tethered through acquisitions like the Activision Blizzard takeover in the latter part of last year, that give the studio the ability to make big decisions without a fear of losing studios no longer wanting to create on Xbox consoles.
If these titles were to jump the digital divide then the allegiances of the player-base may be split, as we said in Starfield’s case may happen due to poor reception of the Bethesda title, but Microsoft could make investments back on a falling star.
We also reported that an Xbox podcast has unearthed details that Microsoft, rather than pulling out of the console market, actually has two new machines in the pipeline for 2026, including a handheld Nintendo Switch (but more likely Steam Deck) competitor, as well as a new ‘traditional’ Xbox console.
So until we see what Phil Spencer and the panel have in store, there isn’t a definitive answer to the smoke and mirrors that have been building up to this Wednesday’s announcement.
We will as always be there to keep gamers posted on all the information across the gaming world and eagerly await the fallout of the podcast.
Image: Xbox on X.
