Xbox Series X controller box leak points to November 6 release date

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The leak suggests Microsoft's next-gen console could come early in the month

(Image credit: Microsoft)

A leaked Xbox Series X controller box could suggest a November 6 release date for Microsoft's next-gen console.  

The Verge journalist Tom Warren posted a tweet with an image obtained from a tipster that is said to be boxes of the new Xbox Series X controllers. The packaging has a "do not open date" of November 6, which might potentially be the actual release date of the upcoming Microsoft console. 

As with every leak, it's best to maintain some scepticism, but given the recent confirmation yesterday that the Xbox Series X will be launching in November, it doesn't seem outside of the realms of possibility. 

This latest leak follows not long after previous controller images surfaced that seemingly confirmed the existence of the Xbox Series S. The long-rumoured all-digital console was referred to with the codename Lockhart, and along with leaked code, the images seem to give further credence to the idea that another console is on the way along with the Series X. 

As well as getting news confirming a November release date, 343 Industries posted a statement revealing that Halo Infinite has been pushed back to 2021. Originally set to be the big launch title for the Series X, studio head Chris Lee wrote that the decision to delay the next entry in the Halo series came as a result of development challenges, including the "ongoing COVID-related impacts affecting us all this year". 

After acknowledging the hard work of the team at 343 Industries and their commitment to making a great game, Lee explained that "it is not sustainable for the well-being of our team or the overall success of the game to ship it this holiday." 

The exact release date of both the Xbox Series X and PS5 has been the source of much discussion over the past year. Whether or not the PS5 also releases in November remains to be seen, but given it also has a Holiday 2020 window, it could very well launch around a similar date. 

Looking ahead to the next-gen console? Here are all of the upcoming Xbox Series X games we know about so far. 

Heather Wald
Heather Wald
Evergreen Editor, Games

Heather Wald is the Evergreen Editor, Games at GamesRadar+. Her writing career began on a student-led magazine at Bath Spa University, where she earned a BA (Hons) in English literature. Heather landed her first role writing about tech and games for Stuff Magazine shortly after graduating with an MA in magazine journalism at Cardiff University. Now with almost seven years of experience working with GamesRadar+ on the features team, Heather helps to develop, maintain, and expand the evergreen features that exist on the site for games, as well as spearhead the Indie Spotlight series. You'll also see her contribute op-eds, interview-led features, and more. In her spare time, you'll likely find Heather tucking into RPGs and indie games, reading romance novels, and drinking lots of tea.