Unredacted documents presented and made publicly available for viewing as part of the ongoing Microsoft v. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) trial may lead to the largest leak in video game history.
The flood of files has revealed deep secrets about Xbox’s upcoming plans for the better part of a decade, giving us unprecedented insight into what the future holds for the gaming giant. This includes information on upcoming hardware refreshes, next-generation consoles, and unannounced Bethesda titles, as well as another look at Microsoft’s acquisition ambitions. There’s a lot to take in, so we’ve rounded up five key revelations you’ll want to know.
A new Xbox Series
https://twitter.com/stephentotilo/status/1704121068519133313
The most surprising thing to be leaked as part of the test is a new Xbox Series The leaked documents describe it as “Brooklyn – Xbox Series Fi, PSU, standby mode, and more. An upgraded Xbox Series S code-named Ellewood may also be in the works and released before Brooklyn.
If Microsoft still follows the plan outlined in this “Roadmap to 2030” document created in May 2022, it will release Brooklyn in late October 2024 for $500. If Microsoft is still planning to release Brooklyn next year, it contradicts recent statements from Xbox head Phil Spencer, who was bearish on the idea of a mid-gen refresh in Gamescom interviews. It’s possible that Microsoft’s plans have changed since these leaked documents were created, but if not, we now know what to expect in terms of Microsoft’s console refresh.
A new Xbox controller is in the works
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During the Brooklyn leak, a new version of the Xbox Series Xbox Series Referred to as “Sebil – The New Xbox Controller”, this controller can seamlessly pair and connect to the cloud.
It will also have haptic feedback, an accelerometer gyro, quiet button, modular thumbsticks, a rechargeable and swappable battery, and the ability to wake up simply by being picked up. The same road map that lists the release windows of Brooklyn and Ellewood says the Sebile controller will launch in late May 2024 for $70.
First details on Microsoft’s next-generation console leak
https://twitter.com/AR12Gaming/status/1704102055206322389
It’s hard to believe that we’re almost three years into this console generation and Microsoft is already planning its next major console release, but that’s just the case. Unfortunately for Microsoft, its current technical ambitions for the platform were included in this leak. A leaked document states that Microsoft’s ultimate goal is to “develop a next-generation hybrid game platform that is able to leverage the combined power of the client and the cloud to deliver deeper immersion and entirely new categories of game experiences.” Can go.”
In practice, a list of technical improvements suggests that we can expect an ARM64 CPU that balances large and small cores, a GPU that is co-designed with AMD, and an NPU that is “flexible, “Programmable ML balances silicon versus the desire for high-performance”. Silicon for targeted workloads, as well as support for improved ray tracing, global illumination, micropolygon rendering, and ML-based super resolution. Microsoft also mentioned a “thin OS” for cheaper consumer and handheld devices, with the possibility of playing games via the cloud.
This next-generation console is currently scheduled to launch in 2028.
Several upcoming Bethesda games leaked
Enough about the hardware – several upcoming Bethesda games also leaked. A 2020 document outlining Bethesda’s game road map through fiscal year 2024 included some games we don’t know about. Along with games like MachineGames’ Indiana Jones Project, the list also includes several code-named projects, remasters of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Fallout 3, a Ghostwire: Tokyo sequel, Doom Year Zero, and Dishonored 3.
Another document also confirmed that The Elder Scrolls VI won’t launch until at least 2026. Some of these games have missed the release windows listed in the documents, so it is very possible that these dates are no longer accurate and some may not be released at all. Still, it paints a clear picture of the development that was happening at Bethesda a few years ago and provides insight into the lineup that inspired Microsoft to buy Bethesda in the first place.
Microsoft considered acquiring Nintendo and Warner Bros. Interactive
https://twitter.com/tomwarren/status/1704021807341203802
A leaked email from 2020 gives some insight into Spencer’s acquisition ambitions at the time. Namely, it seems that he would love to acquire Nintendo because it would be a “career moment” for him.
He wrote, “I completely agree that Nintendo is the premier asset for us in gaming, and gaming is the most likely path to consumer relevance today.” “I’ve had several conversations with Nintendo’s LT about a tighter collaboration and I think if an American company had the opportunity with Nintendo, we’d probably be in the best position… At some point, Nintendo will get “It will be a career moment and I honestly believe it’s a good move for both companies.”
Ultimately, Spencer did not want to pursue a hostile takeover of Nintendo, so he decided to play the “long game” when it came to acquiring it. The same email also reveals that Microsoft was interested in acquiring Warner Bros. Interactive around the same time as Bethesda, although the lack of any WB IP ownership was disastrous for it, with Spencer also equally interested in acquiring Valve. Curious as much as it was Nintendo.
It’s worth noting that this email is from three years ago, and these acquisition ambitions may have fizzled out following changing economic conditions and the difficult and expensive process of acquiring Activision Blizzard.