Microsoft still has a while to go before their Xbox One X is no longer the most powerful console on the market.
Things will change in the future, but right now it looks like the powerful Microsoft gaming machine will remain top of the pile in 2019.
Having gambled on a mid-generation shift, it appears to have paid off, with the Xbox One X proving to be the shot in the arm needed for the Xbox brand.
Titles such as Red Dead Redemption 2 have used the full firepower of the Xbox One X to show what it is capable of and there are going be more games like it in the future.
Cyberpunk 2077 is one such title that could use the Xbox console to its full potential, as well as whatever other Xbox 360 games Microsoft decide to upgrade.
There is no doubt that the Xbox One X will remain a bright spot for Microsoft in 2019, even if they are predicted to fall further behind their rivals, the Nintendo Switch and PS4.
It has been a sobering lesson for Microsoft who seem to have learnt a lot for their next generation release.
According to the latest reports, the tech giant is preparing to launch two new Xbox consoles as they bid to turn the tides on Sony PlayStation.
From what has been shared so far, the Xbox Two will come in two bundles, one powerful like the Xbox One X, and the other mimicking the Xbox One S.
Both will play the same games, but one will have higher specs and more firepower out the gates to make those new titles shine.
The other console, meanwhile, will be the cheaper alternative that will still be able to play all the latest games.
These two new consoles are being referred to as the powerful Scarlett ‘Anaconda’ and the Scarlett Arcade ‘Lockhart’.
Both will be a step forward and offer gamers a choice in what they are looking for in a console.
These will reportedly drop in 2020 and will likely have to face off against whatever Sony PlayStation has planned for their PS5.
Another report suggests that Microsoft is also looking into launching one last Xbox One model.
This will arrive in 2019 and will be a new Xbox One console without a disc drive. The reason for this change will be to upgrade the console in several small ways, as well as reduce the cost.
It appears this change could drop the price of the Xbox One to its lowest yet, while also offering something for those people who own extensive digital libraries.
There is also talk of some kind of program that will allow Xbox gamers to turn their physical titles into digital ones.
The source of these reports is Thurrott.com, which also claims that Microsoft has massive plans for their cloud gaming department and software offerings.
Cloud gaming is in the works for both the Xbox One and Xbox Two, both of which remain a work in progress.
The company also wants to make it easier for devs to develop for PC and Xbox One, which will come through something new called Gamecore.
“GameCore is the evolution of the UWP platform and is going to help Microsoft eventually start building container-based apps,” Thurrott reports.
“GameCore will make it significantly easier for developers to utilise Xbox services on both PC and the Xbox and should provide for higher levels of performance with lower-level system access and control of hardware assets.”
To recap, Microsoft is reportedly planning to launch a large amount of hardware in the coming years that will offer different features and gaming styles.
The company has hinted at this ploy for some time and it finally sounds like they will have a solid plan in place for the next-gen of gaming.
This follows shock news concerning the sales of the Xbox One X, Microsoft’s benchmark gaming machine.
According to industry analyst with NPD, Mat Piscatella, the Xbox One X is having a great year.
“Xbox One sales show the highest growth of the three major hardware platforms in the U.S. this year, and the Xbox One X, in particular, has been performing phenomenally,” he reveals.
“year-over-year growth like this at this point in the cycle has never been seen before, driven by the launch of the Xbox One X and new content delivery efforts.
“It’s a mid-generation turnaround the market’s never seen before. This qualifies as phenomenal, even if not market leading.”
Microsoft may have missed out on dominating the current console cycle, but it appears they have plenty of plans to try and change that in 2019.
New consoles from Microsoft and Sony are expected and could reveal some big changes are coming to the console space soon.