If you were wondering when Microsoft will start talking about its next console (or series of consoles, according to rumors), today comes an interesting rumor that gives us an idea of when this can happen. The X/Twitter account TheGhostOfHope, which has a solid history of CoD-related leaks, has revealed that it has heard that the next Xbox will arrive in 2026.

According to the leaker, Infinity Ward's next Call of Duty will be a launch title for the new console, and this will be called "Xbox Prime", although it is unclear, according to his sources, if this is a codename or the final commercial name.

If this is true, then it is possible that Microsoft will start talking about the new hardware (or platform) this year, perhaps during the summer Showcase or later, towards the end of the year (Xbox Series X was in fact announced as a concept at E3 2019 in June, and then revealed at The Game Awards in December 2019).

We remind you that at the moment the common opinion about the new console is that Microsoft will release an "open platform" to allow other manufacturers, such as Asus, Lenovo or Alienware, to create their own Xbox (which can have different shapes and even be portable), and that this will be to all intents and purposes a PC optimized for gaming, with access to other stores in addition to Microsoft. A concept very similar to the Steam Deck or the rumored Steam Box. Obviously Microsoft would produce its own version of the console, as it already does with Surface devices, but gamers will have a greater choice of consoles, with different prices and performances, on the market, exactly as it happens today in the PC world.

It also seems that the new console/platform will have a new controller with support for haptic feedback and gyroscope, which we imagine will become a standard in the PC world as well.

If this is confirmed, of course there are many questions that MS will have to answer: will there be a minimum configuration below which manufacturers must not fall? Will they be closed or expandable consoles? Will we be able to play all Steam titles, including Sony ones? But to get these answers we will probably have to wait until at least summer 2026.