XBOX Expands Past Consoles With Division XP and Elite 3 Pads

Microsoft lays out its next-generation hardware plans, introduces XBOX XP, and prepares for potential controller upgrades as it enters a new phase of its gaming strategy.

The latest XBOX news points to a major shift for Microsoft's gaming business, with big developments in its finances, upcoming hardware, first-party franchises, and accessories. The company is adjusting its gaming approach while also looking for ways to take its biggest properties beyond consoles. With Project Helix taking shape and a new entertainment division now in focus, a lot is happening behind the scenes.

November is also bringing fresh games to the lineup, and new details about the Elite Series 3 controller suggest Microsoft may finally address some long-standing hardware complaints. Together, these developments clarify the company's priorities and where its gaming business could head over the next few years.

Two games are already getting attention ahead of November. Voidwrought is set to leave early access with its full 1.0 release on November 4, bringing the first-person shooter to XBOX Series X and Series S. It’s already available in early access through Ultimate and PC Game Pass, but until now it’s been limited to PC. The full release is expected to add more weapons, bosses, levels, achievements, and other content.

Warhammer Survivors is another upcoming game worth watching. As the name suggests, it mixes the Warhammer universe with the survival gameplay made popular by Vampire Survivors. Players will reportedly be able to choose from more than 40 recognizable champions across Warhammer 40,000 and Age of Sigmar, plus over 75 weapons.

With several new releases on the way, November looks like it’ll have plenty for anyone wanting something different. One of the biggest pieces of recent XBOX news is the arrival of XBOX XP, a new division meant to stretch Microsoft’s gaming franchises into broader entertainment and consumer experiences. Despite the name's link to experience points, this isn't another achievement system.

It brings together four areas of investment: pictures, products, partnerships, and places.

The pictures team will handle film and television adaptations, while products will handle merchandise and licensing. Partnerships will link Microsoft's gaming properties with creators, brands, and sponsors. Places, meanwhile, will cover broadcasts, live events, immersive attractions, and maybe even theme parks. A franchise like Gears of War getting its own themed attraction shows how far this strategy could eventually go.

Kayleen Walters has been named president of XBOX XP. She spent 13 years working on Star Wars at Lucasfilm before moving to Mojang, where she was executive producer on the Minecraft movie. Her experience turning established entertainment properties into bigger experiences makes her a logical pick to lead the new division.

Her departure also changes things at Mojang. Former Meta and Reddit executive Maria Angelidou-Smith has been named CEO of Mojang and Minecraft. Microsoft’s gaming leadership has pointed to her background in technology, creator communities, community projects, and monetization as key reasons she’s right for the job.

The new division makes official Microsoft’s ambition to make its franchises bigger than any single release. Halo, Fallout, Minecraft, Gears of War, and Call of Duty all offer room to grow into other kinds of entertainment. Success, though, will depend on whether these projects retain what made the original games appealing in the first place.

Building out established properties could boost their long-term value, but a heavier focus on existing franchises may leave less room for experimental projects and new IPs.

The company's broader strategy also became clearer after an internal employee meeting led by gaming chief Asha Sharma. Earlier reports suggested the business had returned to growth, potentially reaching two or three times its previous level. That claim was later clarified: the numbers referred specifically to growth in first-party games, not the whole gaming business.

Even with that distinction, the internal figures reportedly showed that player hours had stopped falling, while positive feelings toward the brand rose 30% over the previous year. Strong starts for Gears of War: E-Day, Minecraft Dungeons 2, and World of Warcraft were also pointed to as encouraging signs for the company's major releases.

Sharma laid out four priorities going forward: core, content, creation, and connection. PC gaming will remain important across the XBOX app, Steam, and Battle.net, but consoles remain at the heart of the strategy. Microsoft plans to keep investing in the current Series X and Series S generation and make sure its existing console audience gets the support it expects.

That commitment matters because the company has faced doubts about its long-term console plans. Sharma reportedly stressed that the business shouldn't grow beyond consoles without first properly serving its most valuable existing players. That suggests Microsoft understands that expanding to other platforms can’t come at the expense of its existing audience.

Microsoft is also rethinking its XBOX Game Pass strategy. 

Sharma reportedly admitted that earlier decisions had contributed to a steep financial drop for the subscription service. Future plans could make memberships more flexible, possibly letting subscribers choose packages based on specific games or content. A pick-your-own approach could give players more control over what they pay for, though the details aren’t confirmed.

The latest XBOX news also includes big developments around next-generation hardware. Project Helix is expected to anchor a broader family of devices rather than serve as the company’s only gaming system. Sharma reportedly said no single device can satisfy every player, suggesting Microsoft plans to support traditional console gaming alongside portable options.

Microsoft could build some devices directly, while others may come through partnerships with outside hardware companies. The existing ASUS ROG Ally lineup shows how those collaborations can work. An official handheld could eventually join the wider ecosystem, though Microsoft hasn't formally confirmed one.

For traditional console players, the key detail is Microsoft’s stated goal of delivering a great console first. Project Helix looks like it’ll be the next generation's central piece, even as the company explores other hardware formats. Sharma also said development of a new operating system was going well, but no further technical details have been shared yet.

This broader approach could make the jump from the Series generation feel bigger than the move from XBOX One.

Rather than relying solely on a familiar console design, Microsoft seems interested in building a more varied hardware ecosystem. The exact lineup, including whether it will include multiple console models, remains unclear. Elsewhere, a big leak about the Elite Series 3 controller points to several possible upgrades. Information reportedly found in the XBOX Design Lab backend points toward Hall effect and TMR analog stick options.

Both use magnetic sensing and could help reduce stick drift, one of the most persistent complaints about modern controllers. The leaked information also mentions swappable stick modules with standard, loose, and tight resistance settings. Players could adjust how loose or tight the sticks feel. Advanced voice coil haptics may accompany the familiar impulse triggers, offering more detailed feedback during play.

Other reported features include a built-in audio scroll wheel, quieter low-friction sticks, and several new directional-pad designs. These additions would give players more ways to customize their controller while fixing practical problems people ran into with earlier Elite models.

There may also be four versions of the controller, although how they differ is still uncertain. Some models might skip the haptic motors, while cheaper packages could leave out extra accessories, much like the split between the existing Elite and Elite Core.

None of these specs have been officially confirmed, so take the leak with a grain of salt.

That said, an industry insider suggests the Elite Series 3 could arrive fairly soon, possibly before Christmas. One possibility is a reveal during the company’s 25th-anniversary celebrations, though no announcement has confirmed that timing. The amount of information uncovered suggests development may be well along, but the release window remains unknown.

Finally, October's first XBOX Game Pass content wave has been announced, bringing several games to subscribers. Battlefield is one of the big additions, arriving alongside its Season 5 update, which includes maps set in Las Vegas and Area 51. Those locations should give returning shooter players some fresh places to play.

Taken together, the latest XBOX news shows a company trying to balance its established console audience with new opportunities in hardware, subscriptions, and entertainment. XBOX XP could turn major franchises into much bigger businesses, while Project Helix hints at a more flexible approach to gaming hardware. Meanwhile, possible controller improvements and upcoming releases give players more immediate reasons to pay attention.

Plenty of details still need official confirmation, especially the leaked controller specs and the full scope of Microsoft’s next-generation hardware plans. Even so, the direction is becoming clearer: Microsoft wants to strengthen its existing gaming business while building a broader ecosystem around its most valuable franchises.