Microsoft's next-generation Xbox console is breaking from tradition by running on a customized Windows 11 operating system instead of a dedicated console OS. According to Windows Central, the system will boot into an Xbox interface by default but allow users to access the full Windows 11 environment, supporting Steam, Epic Games Store, and standard PC applications alongside Xbox games. This represents Microsoft's first major departure from the walled-garden approach that has defined console gaming for decades.

Hardware partners like ASUS are collaborating with Microsoft to create multiple devices at different price points rather than a single standard console. The Xbox Full Screen Experience mode already demonstrates performance benefits, reducing RAM usage by 9.3% and increasing FPS by 8.6% compared to standard Windows 11 mode. Teams from both Windows and Xbox divisions are working together to adapt the operating system for living room use, potentially creating a hybrid system that serves both gaming and productivity needs with Microsoft 365 applications.

The console will be powered by AMD's "Magnus" SoC, featuring a massive 408 mm² chiplet design built on TSMC's N3P node. The APU includes up to 11 CPU cores (three Zen 6 and eight Zen 6c) and a substantial GPU setup with 68 RDNA 5 compute units. Memory configurations could reach 48 GB of GDDR7 on a 192-bit bus, with a dedicated NPU offering up to 110 TOPS of AI performance.

Quick Fact: The Xbox Full Screen Experience reduces RAM usage by 9.3% compared to standard Windows 11 mode.