Jez Corden from Windows Central shut down rumors that Xbox is canceling next-generation console hardware, confirming through multiple trusted sources that plans remain firmly on track. There are presently no plans to cancel any planned Xbox hardware, Corden stated on October 5, though he added the critical caveat: however, you never know with Xbox changing strategies. Microsoft quickly followed with an official statement affirming active investment in future first-party consoles designed, engineered, and built by Xbox.
How the Rumors Started
The cancellation rumors originated from insider SneakersSO’s NeoGAF post claiming really concrete plans for actual Microsoft Xbox hardware went from being definitive, to up in the air following disappointing Call of Duty Game Pass results. The Verge’s Tom Warren validated SneakersSO as someone who knows a lot of what goes on internally and is not a bad source, lending credibility to the claims. Those comments morphed into outright cancellation narratives across social media, forcing both Corden and Microsoft to respond.
The timing made the rumors plausible. Microsoft just announced a 50 percent Game Pass Ultimate price hike to 30 dollars monthly, Bloomberg reported Xbox lost over 300 million dollars on Call of Duty Black Ops 6’s Game Pass inclusion, retailers like Costco pulled Xbox consoles from shelves, and massive summer layoffs gutted studios across the gaming division. The cumulative effect created an environment where Xbox hardware cancellation felt believable rather than absurd.
Corden’s Full Report and Sources
Corden’s Windows Central article detailed his confirmation process. I’ve asked multiple trusted sources, many of whom spoke to me on the above devices previously which turned out to be true, about what Xbox’s present hardware posture is, he wrote. Those sources previously provided accurate information on Xbox Series X and S specs, pricing, the cancelled cloud Keystone console, the shelved first-party Xbox handheld, and most recently the Xbox Ally partnership devices codenamed Keenan.
According to Corden’s sources, hardware plans are not even up in the air and remain firmly Xbox’s path forward. Xbox Series X and S hardware production has not ceased, and new stock will go out to retailers at its usual cadence. The multi-year AMD partnership announced in June 2025 for custom silicon across a portfolio of devices, including next-generation Xbox consoles, remains the present plan. Project Keenan handhelds, premium Xbox Series X successors targeting 2027, and new controller options are all proceeding as previously reported.
Microsoft’s Official Statement
Microsoft provided a statement to Windows Central and other outlets on October 5: We are actively investing in our future first-party consoles and devices designed, engineered and built by Xbox. For more details, the community can revisit our agreement announcement with AMD. The reference to the AMD partnership serves as concrete evidence that contractual obligations and hardware development continue, at minimum through whatever parameters the multi-year deal stipulates.
Xbox president Sarah Bond emphasized in June’s announcement video: At Xbox, our vision is for you to play the games you want, with the people you want, anywhere you want. That’s why we’re investing in our next-generation hardware line up, across console, handheld, PC, cloud, and accessories. The October statement essentially reiterates those June promises, though the need to reiterate raises questions about why such reassurance became necessary just four months later.
The ‘For Now’ Problem
Corden’s report includes a critical qualifier that undermines the reassurance: At least for now. His article elaborates: That at least for now qualifier is a real problem. How can we know what will be true next quarter? The statement acknowledges Xbox’s pattern of rapid strategy pivots that render previous commitments obsolete. Microsoft executives testified during the Activision acquisition that Game Pass prices wouldn’t increase. That promise lasted less than two years before the 50 percent Ultimate hike.
The broader Windows Central piece explores why hardware cancellation rumors feel so plausible despite being currently false. It’s a problem that rumors of a cancellation are so easy to believe, Corden writes. Gaming is not a necessity, or a utility — it’s driven by sentiment and fun feeling. People need to also feel good about where they play, and Microsoft is making it incredibly hard to feel good about Xbox right now. It’s clearly reaching a crisis point.
Why Faith in Xbox Has Collapsed
Corden identifies several factors eroding confidence in Xbox’s long-term hardware commitment. The Game Pass restructuring was months in the making with codenames appearing over summer 2025, yet Microsoft presented it poorly, emphasizing new Fortnite Crew bundles while burying the 50 percent price increase and removal of DLC discounts. Combined with huge price hikes, retailers removing Xbox hardware, and massive layoffs, it’s not unsurprising people are speculating on Xbox’s demise.
Microsoft’s multiplatform pivot compounds the issue. Putting Xbox exclusives like Sea of Thieves, Hi-Fi Rush, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on PlayStation and Nintendo eliminates the primary reason to own Xbox hardware. If games go everywhere, why buy an Xbox console? The answer increasingly comes down to Game Pass, but at 30 dollars monthly with degraded benefits, that value proposition weakens. The vicious cycle creates legitimate uncertainty about whether investing in next-generation Xbox hardware makes business sense.
The AMD Partnership as Anchor
The June 2025 AMD partnership announcement provides the strongest evidence that Xbox hardware plans remain active. Microsoft publicly committed to a strategic, multi-year partnership for custom silicon across a portfolio of devices including next-generation Xbox consoles. AMD CEO Lisa Su appeared in announcement materials alongside Sarah Bond, lending corporate weight to the commitment. The ROG Xbox Ally featuring AMD Ryzen Z2 processors represents the first product from that partnership.
Legally, Microsoft probably can’t exit console manufacturing until whatever previously agreed parameters of the AMD contract are fulfilled, as The Gamer speculated. Multi-year partnerships typically include development milestones, minimum purchase commitments, and penalty clauses for early termination. Even if Xbox leadership decided tomorrow to cancel next-generation consoles, contractual obligations with AMD would likely force them to proceed or pay substantial penalties. The partnership serves as an anchor preventing sudden hardware exits regardless of strategic wavering.
What’s Actually Planned for Next-Gen
Corden’s March 2025 report detailed Xbox’s hardware roadmap based on sources with proven track records. Microsoft’s internal successor to Xbox Series X and S has been fully greenlit all the way up to CEO Satya Nadella. Current plans include a premium successor to the Xbox Series X, an Xbox gaming handheld (separate from the partnered Keenan devices), and several new controller options tentatively scheduled for 2027.
The next-generation Xbox consoles will integrate more closely with Windows than previous models, reducing porting work for PC developers. Backwards compatibility with legacy Xbox games continues, and Xbox lead Phil Spencer has teased supporting third-party storefronts including Epic Game Store, GOG, itch.io, and potentially Steam itself. New controllers feature direct-to-cloud connectivity and intelligent device switching. AI will likely play a role alongside cloud capabilities, though specific implementations remain vague.
Community Reaction and Skepticism
Reddit’s r/GamingLeaksAndRumours community gave Corden’s report 452 upvotes, with comments split between relief and continued skepticism. One user noted that even if Microsoft did come out to squash the rumors themselves, it’s hard to have any faith, echoing Corden’s own assessment that Microsoft has been incredibly fickle over the past few years, crushed under AI hype, demands from CFO Amy Hood, and a complete dereliction of fan feedback.
Others highlighted that this is basically exactly what anyone outside of Microsoft execs would possibly know at this point, suggesting even trusted sources only see current plans without insight into executive-level strategy discussions that could change everything. The fact that both SneakersSO and Tom Warren validated the rumor’s plausibility before Corden pushed back demonstrates how fragile confidence in Xbox’s hardware future has become. One accurate leak that plans shifted could override multiple reassurances that plans remain on track.
The Broader Crisis of Confidence
Corden’s report dedicates substantial space to analyzing why Xbox is in this position. Microsoft is absolutely awful at managing faith in its consumer products, and I’ve written previously about how the telemetry driving its decisions and its diffuse focus is leading to a collapse in morale in the brand. The article argues that Microsoft’s data-driven approach misses the intangible feeling that drives gaming platform loyalty.
The disconnect between Microsoft’s internal metrics showing Game Pass needing restructuring and the external perception of a 50 percent price hike as exploitative illustrates the problem. Microsoft sees user behavior data justifying changes. Fans see a corporation squeezing customers after spending 68.7 billion dollars on Activision. Both perspectives contain truth, but Microsoft’s failure to bridge that perception gap erodes trust that undermines future messaging regardless of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Jez Corden confirm Xbox is cancelling next-gen consoles?
No, Corden confirmed there are presently no plans to cancel planned Xbox hardware. His sources with proven track records stated hardware plans remain firmly on track, and Microsoft provided an official statement affirming continued investment in first-party consoles.
Why did rumors start about Xbox cancelling hardware?
Insider SneakersSO claimed on NeoGAF that concrete Xbox hardware plans went from definitive to up in the air following disappointing Call of Duty Game Pass results, retail abandonments, and massive layoffs. Tom Warren validated SneakersSO as a credible source, making the claims feel plausible.
What did Microsoft say about Xbox hardware cancellation?
Microsoft stated: We are actively investing in our future first-party consoles and devices designed, engineered and built by Xbox. For more details, the community can revisit our agreement announcement with AMD. The statement references the June 2025 multi-year AMD partnership.
When will the next Xbox console release?
According to Corden’s March 2025 reporting, Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox consoles are tentatively scheduled for 2027. Plans include a premium Xbox Series X successor, gaming handhelds, and new controller options.
Is Xbox exiting the hardware business?
Currently no, though Corden emphasized the for now qualifier, noting Xbox’s pattern of rapid strategy changes. The AMD partnership provides contractual obligations that likely prevent sudden hardware exits regardless of strategic wavering.
Why is confidence in Xbox hardware so low?
Factors include the 50 percent Game Pass price hike, over 300 million dollars lost on Call of Duty, retailers pulling consoles, massive layoffs, studio closures, game cancellations, and multiplatform strategy eliminating Xbox exclusives. The cumulative effect makes hardware cancellation feel plausible.
Who is Jez Corden and why does he know about Xbox plans?
Jez Corden is senior editor at Windows Central with proven track record for accurate Xbox reporting. His sources previously confirmed Xbox Series X and S specs, pricing, cancelled projects, and upcoming hardware before official announcements.
Conclusion
Jez Corden’s confirmation that Xbox hardware plans remain on track provides short-term reassurance, but his emphasis on the for now qualifier captures the real problem. Microsoft’s pattern of rapid strategy pivots, poor communication, and data-driven decisions that ignore sentiment have eroded faith to the point where hardware cancellation rumors feel believable despite being currently false. The AMD partnership serves as a contractual anchor preventing sudden exits, but that legal obligation doesn’t guarantee Microsoft remains committed to console hardware long-term beyond fulfilling minimum partnership requirements. Xbox’s hardware future exists in confirmed limbo, where plans are technically active but could shift at any quarter based on metrics, executive demands, or AI hype overwhelming gaming priorities. That uncertainty represents the true crisis, not the specific rumor Corden debunked.