Microsoft is making a sequel that could take a decade to develop

News
By published

A Microsoft executive revealed the details in disclosed documents

Xbox
(Image credit: Microsoft)

Xbox has a sequel in development that could take 10 years to make.

Last week, the "Gamer's Lawsuit" against Microsoft was amended with new complaints, along with information provided by Sony. What flew under the radar at the time is that a Microsoft executive stated in the lawsuit that Xbox has a sequel in development that could take a decade to develop.

As noted by Axios reporter Stephen Totilo earlier today on April 20, the "Gamer's Lawsuit" has access to internal Microsoft documents. Via these documents, which have been partially redacted, we can see that one Microsoft executive stated the company is working on "a forthcoming title from the [REDACTED] franchise, which may take a decade to develop."

This is a gargantuan development cycle, even in the modern gaming industry for a AAA game at the highest budget level. This would put the game on a longer dev cycle than, say, the long-delayed Dead Island 2, which has been floating around in development hell for roughly nine years, and unlike Dead Island 2, this would be a very deliberate plan.

The dev cycle could always be anticipating delays for the unknown sequel, but that's a charitable reading of the timetable. We haven't got a clue what franchise this sequel is in, but it's interesting to note that it's mentioned alongside Halo Infinite's prolonged development cycle, indicating that it it's very likely a tentpole franchise for Microsoft.

Then again, it'd have to be a tentpole franchise, and a console-seller at that, to get the budget for a decade-long development cycle from Microsoft. This information gives us more questions than answers, but it's nonetheless interesting to note what one of the biggest video game makers in the world is preparing for on the horizon.

Check out our Xbox Game Studios list if you want to see every studio Microsoft owns and what we know they are currently developing. 

Hirun Cryer
Hirun Cryer
Freelance Writer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.