Microsoft appears to be playing 4D chess while the gaming industry is stuck on checkers.
A swirling vortex of Xbox rumors, leaks, and speculation paint a picture of a company on the brink of a strategy shift that could either be a masterstroke or a high-stakes gamble in the gaming industry.
Recently, there have been whispers suggesting that Microsoft was pondering a future where Xbox consoles would be a thing of the past. However, the latest scoop, courtesy of the Prime Time Gaming podcast's guest, MAGG, flips this narrative on its head.
MAGG claims Microsoft isn't bowing out of the console game. On the contrary, it's doubling down with a major twist: the next generation of Xbox consoles will come without an internal optical disc drive, opting instead for an external one that gamers can purchase separately.
Sony's release of a new PS5 model without a disc drive for a slimmer design and an internal upgrade option last year might have seemed like the future, but Microsoft's counterproposal seems far better.
The potential of a single external disc drive bridging all your gaming needs across consoles and possibly even Microsoft's greater line of devices is certainly interesting. A unified, cross-device gaming ecosystem could give Microsoft a much-needed competitive edge.