Summary

• A new Xbox console is rumored to be released in late 2026.
• Slow sales of current Xbox consoles may prompt quicker release of Microsoft's next system.
• Leaks suggest that year's Call of Duty will be a day one launch title for the new hardware.

A leaker has claimed that Microsoft is already preparing its next Xbox console for launch. While that isn't surprising in and of itself, as console makers start prepping their next systems once a new one releases, the leaker claims that the next console will release far sooner than projections felt it would.

Leaker TheGhostOfHope posted on X (formerly Twitter) that, according to their "trusted sources," the next Xbox console would be released in the latter part of 2026. If true, that would mean that the system would come out around six years after the release of the Xbox Series X/S.

Just as important, TheGhostOfHope indicated that one of the big "day one" releases would be the Call of Duty title expected to drop in 2026. Microsoft currently owns Activision and, thus, may roll out the red carpet for the series' annual entry to make it stand out.

A New Xbox Console May Release In Late 2026

Current Lack Of Success May Expedite Console Release

This prediction specifically contradicts the documents released during the FTC vs. Microsoft trial when the company was in the process of acquiring Activision Blizzard King. In key filings, Microsoft documents were made public which speculated that both Microsoft and rival Sony would release the next line of consoles in 2028, not 2026. However, recent events might have indicated that Microsoft needed to push things out faster. For example, despite Xbox Game being hailed as a game-changer, subscriptions have gone stagnant in recent months.

Another issue is that despite the Xbox Series X/S being released in 2020, its sales have been slow-going. As of February 2024, the combined sales of the systems were under 28 million. In contrast, recent numbers for the PlayStation 5 indicate that the console is at 59 million sold. The two systems were released within days of one another, and Xbox head Phil Spencer noted in other documents uncovered in the FTC case that he felt the Microsoft platform was the superior system. Yet, the PS5 has done vastly better in both hardware and software.

Few can say for certain what the next Xbox system will be. Rumors have spread that Microsoft will try to emulate the Nintendo Switch's success by making an Xbox with a handheld peripheral, but that's not been confirmed. Furthermore, Xbox has tried to copy Nintendo in the past via the Kinect, and it backfired on them. It should also be stated that the leaker, TheGhostOfHope, is typically known for only providing information about Call of Duty, so their words about Microsoft's next system should be taken with a grain of salt.

Source: TheGhostOfHope/X