Xbox Series X Pro not currently needed, says Phil Spencer

Xbox boss Phil Spencer has said a potential mid-cycle upgrade for Xbox Series X isn’t a priority for Microsoft.

Asked whether Xbox plans to release a more powerful Xbox Series X console, Microsoft’s head of gaming told Bloomberg he doesn’t “feel an imperative” to do so.

“That’s not the feedback we’re getting right now,” he said. “Right now, we’re pretty set on the hardware we have.”

Microsoft and Sony both launched their current-gen consoles, Xbox Series X/S and PS5 respectively, in November 2020.

While the companies have previously introduced major upgrades to their consoles after 3-4 years on the market, current generation supply issues caused by the Covid-19 pandemic hit adoption rates and may have impacted the timelines for any planned mid-cycle hardware refreshes.

During the Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday, Microsoft announced a new black version of the Xbox Series S, with increased storage.

The current Xbox Series S has 512GB of storage, which has been a sticking point for some players given the sizes of current-gen titles.

Launching on September 1, the black Xbox Series S will offer 1TB of storage instead. It will cost $349, which is $50 more than the 512GB model.

Further reading

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“When it comes to our consoles, we have heard your feedback on two fronts,” Spencer said during the Xbox presentation. “First, we have significantly increased our supply of Xbox Series X, making it easier for fans to find globally.

“Second, we know you’ve wanted more storage with Xbox Series S, and I’m excited to share we have some news there as well.”