Xbox boss ‘thinking about affordability’ of next-gen console

Xbox chief executive Asha Sharma has stated that the company needs to consider affordability for its upcoming next-generation console, as the industry faces a "crisis" in computing prices. In a recent interview with the BBC, Sharma mentioned that rising hardware costs, driven partially by AI spending, necessitate finding ways to make gaming more affordable.

She also revealed that gamers will soon have the option to access digital versions of many physical games they currently own, meaning their old games could be played on future Xbox consoles without needing a disc drive. Sharma emphasized the importance of providing players with a choice between physical and digital media. Currently, digital games can be downloaded and played across Xbox consoles or PCs, while physical discs offer the benefit of being bought and sold second-hand.

The topic has been controversial, with Sony announcing that new PlayStation games will no longer be released on discs from January 2028. This move has led Xbox to announce that 1,000 titles with physical discs will now include a digital entitlement, which can be transferred to a new owner if the disc is sold second-hand. Sharma hinted that this feature would also allow gamers to play their old titles on future hardware.

She stressed that Xbox must find ways to be efficient and affordable alongside performance, as the industry navigates the "Rampocalypse" of rising console costs due to component price hikes. Sharma, who has been leading Xbox for six months after moving from Microsoft's AI division, admitted that the company faces challenging times but is committed to serving its purpose for the next 25 years, predicting that gaming could become the most important form of entertainment for the next century.