It is fair to say that Microsoft and Sony have adopted very different strategies with the Xbox Series X and PS5. Whereas Microsoft aims to unite gamers with titles that can be played across console generations, Sony has stated that the PS5 will offer an experience that can only be had on new hardware.

But how do they reconcile that with the fact that, at least on paper, the Xbox Series X appears to offer more computing power? In an interview with our sister site GamesRadar, Microsoft's Director of Xbox Series X Program Management, Jason Ronald, attempts to clarify this point.

"One of the exciting things about launching a new generation of consoles is that it sets the direction for game development for the next seven to ten years. Ronald said, "It's going to set the direction of game development for the next seven to ten years.

All of this is possible, Ronald explained, because of the power of the Xbox Series X, "a level of performance never before seen in a console." In other words, just because Microsoft plans to continue to support the Xbox One doesn't mean there aren't significant advantages to upgrading -- especially in the "feel" of the game, Ronald said.

"In previous console generations, the primary focus has been on graphical improvements. But more importantly, in this generation, it's the power you can feel," Ronald said, explaining that this will manifest itself in the form of higher frame rates, ultra-low latency, and a move toward eliminating load times.

But Microsoft knows how important history is to gamers. The company gained a major boost this generation by unexpectedly adding Xbox 360 backward compatibility along the way, and as it moves into the next generation with the Xbox Series X, it is committed to removing all barriers that exist in the ecosystem," Ronald explained. This doesn't just mean cross-play backwards compatibility, or as he puts it, "cross-generational play," but encompasses things like saved progress, achievements, and the gaming legacy itself.

"We really want everyone to be able to play regardless of the device they play on and have a great shared experience together," he added.

It's a bold vision, no doubt. The question is whether Microsoft's comprehensive approach will win the hearts and minds of gamers, or whether Sony's "out with the old and in with the new" mantra will prevail when the two consoles face off later this year.

The full interview can be read at GamesRadar.