In an interview with Mashable, Bond ended speculation about whether Xbox was still in the hardware business, saying the next console will deliver a “very premium, very high-end, curated experience.” That phrasing guarantees it will be very expensive.

Bond’s comments came during a discussion of the ROG Xbox Ally X handheld, developed in partnership with ASUS. When asked whether the next Xbox would blur the line between consoles and PCs, she hinted that the handheld offers a glimpse of Microsoft’s future direction.

“You’re starting to see some of the thinking that we have in this handheld,” Bond said, though she refused to give away more details.

The remark has fuelled rumours that the next Xbox might act as a hybrid device capable of running games from multiple storefronts such as Steam, GOG, Battle.net, and EA Play, alongside traditional Xbox titles. Such a move could finally bridge the gap between console and PC gaming under a single ecosystem.

If leaks are accurate, the new Xbox could arrive around 2027. In the meantime, Microsoft has not done itself many favours by increasing prices not only for the consoles already on sale but also for development kits used by studios. That decision has irritated developers already facing tighter budgets.

Bond's reference to the ROG handheld suggests Microsoft may be rethinking what a console should be. Whether that turns out to be a forward-looking vision or just another overpriced box will depend on how far Xbox is willing to lean into its PC roots.