Xbox FTC leaks – the next-generation Xbox, mid-generation Xbox Series refresh, and more [Update]
A summary of the biggest news from the leaks.
Over the weekend, over 120 documents were published to the United States District Court Northern District of California’s files website pertaining to the Federal Trade Commission v. Microsoft Corporation case regarding Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
One of those documents, an 187MB file named “PX7011 (Redacted).pdf,” contained several attachments viewable in PDF readers such as Acrobat, containing unredacted, highly confidential information about the future of Xbox and more.
In an order filed today, Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley said “Microsoft provided the link” to the documents, which were then uploaded to the files website by the court. The documents have since been removed as they contained non-public information, and Microsoft Corporation will meet with the court by September 22 to resubmit the documents, while verifying they only contain public information.
However, despite the documents’ removal, the information has already been seen and archived by many. The documents include presentations about Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox, its mid-generation refresh for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and the Xbox controller, ZeniMax’s upcoming slate of unannounced games, and more.
Find summaries of each new piece of information revealed by the documents below.
The following information comes from the file “EX PX1022 Phil Spencer 101122.pdf,” which is attached to “PX7011 (Redacted).pdf.”
Context
In a presentation titled “Gaming CSA — Strategy Review 2205 — Discussion Materials vFinal.pdf,” which was sent out on May 5, 2022, Microsoft discussed its vision of 2030.
Information
In an email from Microsoft general manager David Hampton to the gaming leadership team, an attached presentation reveals first information about Microsoft’s plans for the next-generation Xbox, which it expects to launch in calendar year 2028.
While Microsoft has historically been focused on console first and foremost with an Xbox-specific silicon approach, working largely independently with a vertical alignment of hardware and software, it aims to achieve “full convergence” by calendar year 2028 when it launches its next-generation hardware.
Each generation of Xbox has brought new innovations to Microsoft, such as the Xbox Live Marketplace and Kinect in the Xbox 360 era, or Xbox Game Pass in the Xbox One era. For the next-generation Xbox era, Microsoft expects its new innovations to be “cloud hybrid games” and an “immersive game and app platform.”
The company listed the following opportunities and challenges regarding the next generation of Xbox, including scalable hardware architecture, augmented reality and virtual reality, silicon performance and costs, and more.
Microsoft considers cohesive hybrid computing, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and having an open creator platform as key enablers for its vision.
Microsoft’s vision is to “develop a next-generation hybrid game platform capable of leveraging the combined power of the client and cloud to deliver deeper immersion and entirely new classes of game experiences.”
Among the possible specifications for the next-generation Xbox, Microsoft is undecided between an ARM64 or x64 (Zen 6) CPU, with a decision to have been made by late calendar year 2022 / early 2023. (Whether this decision was already made is unclear—the presentation is from early 2022.)
The following information comes from the file “EX PX1517 Phil Spencer 101122.pdf,” which is attached to “PX7011 (Redacted).pdf.”
Context
In a presentation titled “Roadmap to 2023 GLT Pre-Read 04-29-22.pdf,” which was sent out on May 2, 2022, mid-generation refreshes of Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and the Xbox controller are showcased in detail.
Information
The Xbox Series X refresh, codenamed “Brooklin,” is a cylindrical all-digital platform priced at $499. It will feature more internal storage (2TB), faster Wi-Fi, reduced power usage, a USB-C front port with power delivery, and more.
The Xbox Series S refresh, codenamed “Ellewood,” looks similar in appearance to the existing Xbox Series S and is priced at $299. It will feature more internal storage (1TB), faster Wi-Fi, reduced power usage, and more.
The new Xbox controller, codenamed “Sebile,” is priced at $69.99. It will feature new functionality such as precision haptic feedback, quieter buttons and thumbsticks, modular thumbsticks, and more.
According to the launch timeline provided in the PDF, Sebile is expected to launch in late May 2024, followed by Ellewood in late August and Brooklin in late October.
Here are the full specifications for each mid-generation device:
(Green text is meant to indicate a new feature.)
The following information comes from the file “EX PX1050 Phil Spencer 101122.pdf,” which is attached to “PX7011 (Redacted).pdf.”
Context
In a presentation titled “Project Atom Financial Materials.pptx,” which was sent out on July 27, 2020, Bethesda Softworks’ forecasted lineup through fiscal year 2024 is revealed—although the release timings have changed since 2020. Starfield, for example, is listed as a fiscal year 21 title, but ultimately launched in 2023.
Information
Notable unannounced releases appear on the list, including remastered versions of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Fallout 3, a new DOOM game titled DOOM Year Zero, a sequel to Ghostwire: Tokyo, Dishonored 3, an a licensed intellectual property game.
The full list is as follows:
Fiscal Year 20E
- Console and PC
- DOOM Eternal and downloadable content
- The Elder Scrolls Online: Greymoor
- Fallout: Wastelanders
- DEATHLOOP
- Free-to-Play and Mobile
- Fallout Shelter Online
- Project Whirlwind
Fiscal Year 21E
- Console and PC
- Starfield
- Elder Scrolls Online: Expansion
- Redfall
- DOOM Eternal downloadable content
- Ghostwire: Tokyo
- Fallout Worlds (Fallout 76)
- Project Hibiki (Hi-Fi RUSH)
- Free-to-Play and Mobile
- Project Ubu
- Project Wanderer
Fiscal Year 22E
- Console and PC
- Indiana Jones game
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remaster
- Elder Scrolls Online: Expansion
- Starfield downloadable content
- Free-to-Play and Mobile
- Three planned titles
Fiscal Year 23E
- Console and PC
- DOOM Year Zero and downloadable content
- Project Kestrel
- Elder Scrolls Online: Expansion
- Project Platinum
- Free-to-Play and Mobile
- One planned title
Fiscal Year 24E
- Console and PC
- The Elder Scrolls VI
- Project Kestrel: Expansion
- Licensed IP game
- Fallout 3 remaster
- Elder Scrolls Online: Expansion
- Ghostwire: Tokyo Sequel
- Dishonored 3
- DOOM Year Zero downloadable content
- Free-to-Play and Mobile
- One planned title
The following information comes from the file “EX PX1052 Phil Spencer 101122.pdf,” which is attached to “PX7011 (Redacted).pdf.”
Context
In an email chain beginning May 7, 2022 and ending May 17, 2022, Xbox leaders Phil Spencer, Matt Booty, Sarah Bond, and others discussed securing Xbox Game Pass content for holiday 2022 following the news that Starfield has been delayed to 2023, and lack of clarity on the release dates for Redfall and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl.
Information
In an email, Sarah Bond listed out third-party options for Xbox Game Pass, each with an expected asking price by the publisher or developer. The list includes:
- FY23 Q2
- LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (Warner Bros. Games) – Expected asking price: $35 million
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human (Techland) – Expected asking price: $50 million
- Cities: Skylines II (Paradox Interactive) – No expected asking price listed
- Red Dead Redemption 2 (Rockstar Games) – Expected asking price: $5 million per month
- Dragon Ball: The Breakers (Bandai Namco) – Expected asking price: $20 million
- Just Dance (Ubisoft) – Expected asking price: $5 million range
- Let’s Sing (Koch Media) – Expected asking price: $5 million
- Return to Monkey Island (Devolver Digital) – Expected asking price: $5 million
- Wreckfest 2 (THQ Nordic) – Expected asking price: $10 to $14 million
- Baldur’s Gate III (Larian Studios) – Expected asking price: $5 million, described as “second-run Stadia PC RPG”
- FY23 Q3
- Gotham Knights (Warner Bros. Games) – Expected asking price: $50 million
- Assassin’s Creed Mirage (Ubisoft) – Expected asking price: $100 million
- Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (Warner Bros. Games) – Expected asking price: $250 million
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (Electronic Arts) – Expected asking price: $300 million
- Mortal Kombat 1 (Warner Bros. Games) – Expected asking price: $250 million
- Grand Theft Auto V (Rockstar Games) – Expected asking price: $12 to $15 million per month
- Expeditions: A MudRunner Game (Focus Entertainment) – Expected asking price: $5 million
- Glitch Busters: Stuck On You (Skybound Games) – Expected asking price: $5 million
The following information comes from the file “EX PX1208 Phil Spencer 101122.pdf,” which is attached to “PX7011 (Redacted).pdf.”
Context
In an email chain beginning August 5, 2020 and ending August 6, 2020, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer and Microsoft executive vice president and commercial chief marketing officer Takeshi Numoto discussed a potential acquisition of Nintendo (or Valve).
Information
In an email, Phil Spencer said “Nintendo is THE prime asset for us in Gaming and today Gaming is our most likely path to consumer relevance,” adding that Microsoft would need a catalyst to acquire the company as “I don’t think a hostile action would be a good move so we are playing the long game. But our [board of directors] has seen the full writeup on Nintendo (and Valve) and they are fully supportive on either if opportunity arises as am I.” Spencer went on to describe “getting Nintendo” as a “career moment” and “good move” for both companies. “It’s just taking a long time for Nintendo to see that their future exists off of their own hardware. A long time… :-)”
The following information comes from the file “EX PX1275 Phil Spencer 101122.pdf,” which is attached to “PX7011 (Redacted).pdf.”
Context
In an email chain beginning March 18, 2020 and ending March 19, 2020, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and former Microsoft Gaming executive Elizabeth Hamren reacted to the announcement of PlayStation 5’s $499 standard and $399 Digital Edition price announcement.
Information
In an email to Satya Nadella, Phil Spencer expressed his relief after Sony Interactive Entertainment announced the PlayStation 5 price point.
“We’ve all lived with 7 years of starting off a generation with a price and performance (and messaging) disadvantage to PS4 with Xbox One,” the email reads. “I have to admit this morning when I woke up knowing the PS5 reveal was today that the stress level was higher than normal. Now after almost 12 hours of soaking in their unveil, taking apart their specs and looking at the community responses I just wanted to say that I’m proud of our team.”
Spencer continued, “We have a better product than Sony does, not just on hardware but equally important on the software platform and services on top of the hardware. We have the ingredients of a winning plan. I felt the feedback from the [board of directors] discussion on being too confident and maybe this will just reinforce that perception, I get the need to be humbly confident but today was a good day for us.”
Update 05:40 p.m.: Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has addressed the leak in both a Twitter post and an email to Xbox staff members. Get both below.
Twitter Post
“We’ve seen the conversation around old emails and documents. It is hard to see our team’s work shared in this way because so much has changed and there’s so much to be excited about right now, and in the future. We will share the real plans when we are ready.”
Email to Staff
“Team,
“Today, several documents submitted in the court proceedings related to our proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard were unintentionally disclosed. I know this is disappointing, even if many of the documents are well over a year old and our plans have evolved.
“I also know we all take the confidentiality of our plans and our partners’ information very seriously. This leak obviously is not us living up to that expectation. We will learn from what happened and be better going forward. We all put incredible amounts of passion and energy into our work, and this is never how we want that hard work to be shared with the community. That said, there’s so much more to be excited about, and when we’re ready, we’ll share the real plans with our players.
“In closing, I appreciate all of the work that you pour into Team Xbox to surprise and delight our players. In the days and weeks ahead, let’s stay focused on what we can control: continuing the amazing success of Starfield, the upcoming launch of the incredible and accessible Forza Motorsport, and continuing to build games, services and devices that millions of players can enjoy.”
—Phil