Phil Spencer, the head ofXbox, has taken one of the first units of Microsoft’s upcoming Project Scarlett console home, according to a tweet shared Thursday. Spencer’s tweet hints that the newXboxis ready to be used as a daily driver for gaming, and congratulates the development team at the company for their efforts.
Microsoft first announcedProject Scarlettearlier this year at its E3 press conference, teasing the console in a similar fashion to how the Xbox One X was originally announced as Project Scorpio in 2016. A final name for the new machine and pricing details have yet to be confirmed, but Microsoft is already getting the hype train rolling in an effort to start fresh with the next generation.
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The next Xbox is set to arrive in about a year, with a holiday 2020 release window, but Microsoft isn’t wasting time in getting its next console ready for the masses, if Spencer’s tweet is any indication.
The Xbox executive’s reminder that the Xbox One Elite Series 2 controller works with the next Xbox lines up with Microsoft’s goal of making the transition easy for existing fans. The existing family of Xbox One gamepads is set to be supported on Scarlett, meaning couch multiplayer-minded fans or those who already ownone of the luxurious Elite controllerswon’t have to shell out again if they choose to upgrade.
Microsoft’s plans for the next generation may also includemultiple Xbox consoles at different price points, which could arrive on store shelves in 2020 in a similar fashion to the existing Xbox One S and Xbox One X consoles, which offer distinct levels of processing and graphical power for players' needs.
Xbox fans on the hunt for virtual reality games will have to look elsewhere, though. Spencer has already confirmed that there areno plans for Scarlett to support VR headsets, due to a lack of consumer interest and Microsoft’s understanding that fans already have other options for the technology if they want to seek it out themselves. With the Xbox One still reeling from a hard launch that bet on the Kinect and drew fans toward the PS4, it’s no surprise that Microsoft’s strategy for the newestXboxis keeping things simple.
