With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it's unclear how exactly the impending launch of Microsoft's Xbox Series X might be affected going forward. While the company has announced an Inside Xbox stream coming tomorrow at 2 pm PT, Xbox Wire Editor in Chief Will Tuttle confirmed that there will be no "new details to share" about the next-generation console.
In his post to Xbox Wire this morning, Tuttle said the first 2020 episode of Inside Xbox will focus on news for Grounded, Gears Tactics, Sea of Thieves, and the Xbox Game Pass. There will also be "some surprises from our ID@Xbox team," but in place of news about the Xbox Series X, there will be a discussion with the console's Director of Program Management Jason Ronald about what the recently revealed technical specifications will entail.
The April 7 stream will be broadcasted on Mixer, Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter according to Xbox Wire, followed by a first-look gameplay stream for Obsidian Entertainment's Grounded on Mixer and Twitch at about 2:40 pm PT. After that highlights will be uploaded online, but there will be a delay on the addition of captions, audio descriptions, and localized subtitles due to the nature of broadcasting while social distancing.
While Xbox has been cagey about revealing too much regarding its next-generation console release, at the very least fans can look forward to watching its creators break down the technical specs during tomorrow's stream. After Sony revealed the PlayStation 5 specs in a presentation originally meant for the Game Developers Conference, Xbox head Phil Spencer said he is confident about the new console's design choices.
Many have expressed concern about the Xbox Series X's launch title line-up, which is somewhat paltry in terms of quantity. However, during a recent interview with IGN Spencer said Xbox will be planning on creating a "sustained stream of great games" from first- and third-party developers for the console's lifespan.
As the Inside Xbox stream will be affected by social distancing and self-isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic, so are countless other institutions and video game developers worldwide. Recently, Xbox announced a coronavirus relief donation program accessible to users of the company's current console, the Xbox One, that coincides with Microsoft's "Give With Bing" initiative.
Source: Xbox Wire