Xbox Scarlett, Microsoft's Supposed Next-Generation Console, Rumored to Be Set for 2020 Launch

The rumor mill has been activated once more, and this time the talks are about Microsoft’s next-generation console.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2018 is currently taking place, and while it is a venue where video game companies make highly anticipated announcements, Microsoft still ended up being the subject of a widely spread rumor.

Recently, several observers picked up a speculation that Microsoft is currently working on the next-generation Xbox console, which allegedly has already been internally dubbed the Scarlett.

Naturally, Xbox presenters at the company's E3 2018 press event, headed by chief Phil Spencer, did not address the rumors. However, reports noted Spencer said at one point of the presser that the Xbox console team is “deep into architecting the next Xbox consoles, where we will once again deliver on our commitment to deliver the benchmark of console gaming.”

The report on the supposed Xbox Scarlett first came from tech journalist Paul Thurrott of Thurrott.com. He claimed that he got a glimpse of content about hardware products from Microsoft that are yet to be released and will likely be launched in the next two years.

Thurrott added that the Xbox Scarlett release is set sometime in 2020. Based on Microsoft’s tradition of announcing new Xbox consoles, a 2020 retail release would mean a 2019 announcement, most likely at E3. That is if Thurrott’s sources are accurate and if Microsoft will not have any major change of plans or face technical issues along the way.

Meanwhile, the report also said that the Xbox Scarlett is internally billed as “a family of devices.” This might be referring to other devices that support the next-gen console. If any, this also offers the possibility that 2020 is the year when Microsoft levels up its hardware department.

The definition of “next-gen console” also needs to be elaborated on, which is likely to happen only when Microsoft is ready to announce the product. Note that the latest console release from Microsoft, the Xbox One X, is advertised as the most powerful gaming system from the company but it is still billed under the same family tree as previous Xbox One versions.