They did it with 360 and it ended up going well, I think that would be the better choice for Xbox right now, and for gamers too, release a next gen console, and back it up with new games/ip
This is the problem when people are only results-oriented, not enough time or care is looked into the process.
The 360 didn't just come out a year early, it was cheaper than the PS3 and significantly easier to develop for. PS3 really stumbled out of the gate. The Saturn also came out before the N64. How did that play out?
How much more powerful will the NextBox (2025-2027) be than the PS5 Pro (2024)? That it won't be significantly more expensive and give away every technical advantage it could have in the process.
The Dreamcast ALSO came out before the PS2. It actually had 1.5 years on the PS2 in Japan.
All the games that would come out for the NB would be cross gen titles for 3rd party support and if Elder's Scrolls 6 was NB exclusive, XBS supporters would riot. Not to mention Elder's Scrolls is still going to be bigger on PC than console, and if it is on GamePass Day 1, people will get it on PC there. Not buy a rushed to market console after the failure of the XBS.
Just like "it's the economy, stupid", "it's the games, stupid."
If Microsoft doesn't realize that still, they're going to cede the power discussion AND waste a year. It seems like they're determined to run the Sega playbook here.
Once actually news leaks about Xbox abandoning XBS and if they're going to have any support developers are going to need to know, XBS will crater even harder. When everyone and their mother has bought a PS5/PS5 Pro for the next 3+ years, how many people are going to jump to NB in one year?