Microsoft, which is still struggling to make the Xbox One a better challenger to the PlayStation 4, will launch the next-generation Xbox console in 2020, according to a report by Thurrott.
Microsoft has had an impressive E3 2018, with the company acknowledging in its presentation that it was designing new Xbox hardware. What will it take for the next-generation Xbox console to take down the PlayStation 4?
Next-Generation Xbox Console To Launch In 2020
According to a report by Thurrott's Brad Sams, Microsoft will launch the next-generation Xbox console, codenamed Scarlett, in 2020.
Scarlett, however, does not refer to a single console, Sams said. Instead, it refers to "a family of devices," which might mean that Microsoft will release several pieces of hardware related to the Xbox video game system that year.
The release date of 2020 for the new Xbox console may appear to be too close to the 2017 launch of the Xbox One X. However, considering the current status of the Xbox in the video game industry, a 2020 launch may be necessary for Microsoft to keep pace with its rivals.
New Xbox vs PlayStation 4
If Microsoft will really release a new Xbox console in about two years, some features that are already found in the Xbox One will likely be making their way to the device.
The next-generation Xbox will surely support backward compatibility with Xbox One games, similar to how players can play Xbox 360 and original Xbox games on the current-generation console. Microsoft will also likely keep pursuing cross-platform play with the new Xbox console, which is one of its few advantages over the PlayStation 4. The next-generation Xbox console may also align better with Microsoft's upcoming video game streaming services.
However, it remains to be seen how a new Xbox console will address one of its glaring weaknesses, and that is the unimpressive list of exclusive games compared to the PlayStation 4 exclusives. While the Crackdown 3 delay pulled another Xbox exclusive out of E3 2018, Sony hyped up its presence in the annual event with games such as The Last of Us Part II, Ghosts of Tsushima, Spider-Man, and Death Stranding.
Lastly, the next Xbox console may launch with an entirely different foe, as there are also reports that Sony is already working on the PlayStation 5. While Microsoft may be planning Scarlett as a response to the PlayStation 4, Sony may already be two steps ahead as it works on improvements with the PlayStation 5.
