Microsoft updates Xbox GDK with features hinting at next-gen hybrid console

Microsoft has updated the Xbox Game Development Kit (GDK) with a suite of new features, suggesting that the next-generation Xbox could be a hybrid device that combines console and PC gaming capabilities. This follows rumours of such a device, Microsoft's own experiments with the ROG Ally X handheld, and its push for an ‘Xbox Full Screen Experience' on Windows.

A 10-minute video (via Windows Central) on the Microsoft Game Dev YouTube channel details the October 2025 GDK update, highlighting four key features designed to help developers prepare for this potential future. Starting with GameInput, this new API standardises input across keyboards, mice, Xbox gamepads, and custom controllers. It allows developers to use a single codebase for all input methods, ensuring a consistent experience across different device types—a crucial step for a hybrid platform.

Then, there's PlayFab game saves, which enable true cross-platform saves without requiring developers to build their own bespoke systems. While some games already offer this feature between consoles and PC (via Steam), PlayFab provides a unified, platform-agnostic solution that works out of the box. There's also the Xbox Game Package Manager, a tool that has been overhauled to streamline the process of making games ‘Xbox Play Anywhere' compatible. A single interface now handles packaging for both Xbox and PC, replacing a previously multi-step process that was prone to errors. Lastly, the Cross-Platform Gaming Runtime enhances social connectivity between platforms, enabling developers to integrate Xbox social features directly into non-Xbox versions of their games, including those on Steam.

While Microsoft has not explicitly confirmed that these updates are for a next-gen hybrid console, they certainly point towards a future Xbox experience that is far more PC-like.

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