The writing’s on the wall for the Xbox Series X|S era, and Microsoft’s latest rumblings all but confirm it. With the imminent arrival of the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and more hardware whispers emerging from within Redmond, we’re clearly on the cusp of a bold new chapter for Xbox devices. And now, Xbox’s hardware design boss is gently nudging fans toward the future — without saying too much, of course.
“We’re wrapping up this journey”: Xbox reflects on the Series X|S design
In a lengthy and sentimental LinkedIn post, Carl Ledbetter — Partner Director of Design at Xbox — opened up about the philosophy behind the creation of the Xbox Series X and Series S consoles. He emphasised that the goal of the hardware design was always about empowering play and human connection:
“As we wrap up this journey with the Xbox Series X and Series S, the mission behind these consoles echoes everything I’ve learned over 30 years — to create technology that’s powerful, purposeful, and beautifully integrated into people’s lives.”
This is the closest Microsoft has come to formally acknowledging that the current generation is winding down. While there’s no official “end” date in sight, Ledbetter’s tone makes it clear: the focus is shifting towards what’s next.
Series X vs S: A tale of two paths
Ledbetter broke down how the Series X and Series S were built for different kinds of gamers. The Series X, which packs the most power, was designed to slide into a modern entertainment setup while delivering top-tier performance. Think of it as the sports car of consoles: sleek, powerful, and made for speed.
On the flip side, the Series S was Microsoft’s answer to the evolving landscape of accessible gaming. Lightweight, compact, but still capable of next-gen performance, it was all about making cutting-edge gaming available to more players without breaking the bank.
“In designing them, we often refer to their expression as ‘Intelligent Geometry’,” Ledbetter wrote. “Products that are based in pure geometric form, and evoke an impression of precision, craft and intelligence.”
So … what’s next for Xbox hardware?
Ledbetter doesn’t drop any game-changing leaks, but it’s not hard to read between the lines. He closes his post with a cryptic but optimistic teaser about the future:
“With my journey far from over, I am excited and inspired by what is ahead of us.”
It’s vague, sure, but combined with recent developments — like the ROG Ally Xbox Edition — it paints a picture of a company ready to pivot. Whether it’s an evolution in handheld gaming or the seeds of the next-gen Xbox console, there’s something major brewing behind the scenes.
The ROG Xbox Ally: A sign of things to come?
You know what really makes all this gel? The upcoming ROG Xbox Ally. Not officially branded Xbox hardware (yet), but the timing couldn’t be more suspicious. With PC-level gaming performance in a handheld form factor and deep integration with Xbox Game Pass, it feels like part of a broader strategy, one that breaks away from the classic definition of “console”.
Microsoft’s gaming division has already been shifting towards ecosystem-wide thinking, uniting console, PC, and cloud into a seamless experience. If ROG Ally is part of this evolution, then future Xbox hardware could look very different from what we’ve known — and that’s exciting.
So, what comes after Series X|S? We don’t have the full picture yet, but the pieces are coming together — slowly but deliberately. Carl Ledbetter’s heartfelt words are more than a look back; they’re a gentle push forward. And with the curtain slowly descending on the current generation, we’re ready for whatever Microsoft’s cooking up next.
