Recently disclosed documents from the Microsoft-FTC trial regarding the Activision Blizzard acquisition have unveiled the expected timeframe for the next generation of consoles. Microsoft’s acquisition of the renowned Call of Duty developer has been a major topic in the gaming industry, with reports stating that Microsoft paid nearly $70 billion for the deal.

Despite generating significant attention at the time of the announcement, the acquisition has faced various obstacles, including opposition from certain governments around the world. However, an unexpected revelation emerged during the ongoing Microsoft vs. FTC trial.

All About the Microsoft’s Documents!

While there hasn’t been an official announcement about a hypothetical PlayStation 6 or a new Xbox console, rumors have already started circulating about these upcoming consoles. Leaks that surfaced earlier this year suggested the possibility of Sony developing a follow-up to the immensely successful PlayStation 5. Additionally, both fans and industry insiders have speculated that Nintendo might be developing a Switch 2, considering that the handheld-home console hybrid is currently the oldest among the current generation of consoles. Now, recent statements from Microsoft indicate that the company is indeed looking toward the future.

Among the court documents from the early stages of the Microsoft-FTC proceedings, Microsoft’s legal team revealed their expectation for the start of the next console generation. Microsoft has stated that it anticipates the next console generation to begin within the timeframe of “2028,” which means that current-gen consoles will remain in the spotlight for another five years. If this speculated launch window holds true, the PS6 and the next Xbox console would likely be released approximately eight years after the debut of the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in late 2020. This recent trial adds another chapter to the ongoing legal conflicts surrounding the Activision Blizzard deal.

These newly initiated court proceedings coincide with major concerns expressed by Sony, Microsoft’s primary competitor, regarding the impending deal. As per Microsoft’s President Brad Smith, the existing agreement between Sony and Microsoft, which allows the widely popular Call of Duty franchise to be featured on PlayStation consoles, is scheduled to conclude in 2024. While Microsoft has made a new offer to Sony to continue featuring Call of Duty games on the PS5, the PlayStation developer has heavily criticized the offer, fearing that it would undermine competition between the consoles.

While Microsoft and Sony expect to launch their new consoles by 2028, the third major player in the gaming hardware market may have more accelerated plans for its next console. The Nintendo Switch was the earliest console to enter its generation, hitting the market three years prior to the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2017.

With Nintendo having already released a hardware revision in the form of the OLED Switch, developers like Ubisoft have announced their intentions to develop the Switch’s successor. Although the next generation of consoles is still several years away, Microsoft and Sony are undoubtedly already strategizing and preparing for those future launches.