Microsoft reportedly testing new Xbox One prototypes to compete with PS4 Neo

Just a week after we told you that Microsoft had filed two FCC filings for wireless radio devices pointing to possible Xbox One hardware revisions this year, today a new report from The Verge adds more weight to these “Xbox 1.5” rumors. According to the report, Microsoft could be testing new Xbox One prototypes that could help Microsoft compete against an upgraded Playstation 4 from Sony:

Sources familiar with Microsoft’s Xbox plans have revealed to The Verge that the company has been testing a variety of prototype Xbox devices. Some of the prototypes have been tested with upgraded components you’d use to improve the performance of a PC gaming rig. A new wireless chip could be just a small part of the optional hardware upgrades to the Xbox One that Microsoft is planning.

Following Build 2016, Xbox boss Phil Spencer gave a lengthy interview to GameInformer where he explained that he was “not a big fan of Xbox One and a half”, but would prefer to “move forward in big numbers”. This new report makes it clear that Microsoft is working on new Xbox One models, but it’s still not clear what this mid-cycle hardware refresh would be used for. Could Microsoft just shrink things down and optimize power consumption as well as wireless capabilities, or bring a more powerful and future-proof Xbox One that supports 4K and VR games? Please tell us what you would like to see in the comments.