Windows Core OS could be launching with Microsoft's new Surface foldables

If previous Windows release schedules offer any indication, the release of a new Microsoft operating system should be near. Latest rumors point to an imminent reveal of a new OS version in the next few months, possibly around early October, when Microsoft is expected to announce new Surface devices. The closest thing to an official announcement of this upcoming OS are some mentions of WCOS in MS employee LinkedIn profiles spotted a few months ago, plus a “leak” recently glimpsed by the guys over at Windows Latest in support documentation files for Windows 10 feature update 1903.

Unfortunately the documents do not contain any descriptions about the new OS, just three IDs that could appear in the logging library:

• wcmp The Windows Shell Composer ID
• wPId The Windows Core OS product ID
• wsId The Windows Core OS session ID

Tom’s Hardware reports that the Windows Core OS is expected to offer a modular platform that can support multiple form factors without compromising features. Thus, this OS should offer the same performance whether it is running on desktops, laptops, VR machines, future Xbox consoles, or even foldable devices. As the name suggests, Core OS would be a low-level access operating system with different versions of Windows built on top to accommodate the entire range of form factors.

Speaking of different versions of Windows, the upcoming Centaurus and Pegasus foldables rumored to be launched soon are expected to run a new Lite OS that features support for dual-screen devices. The Lite OS is most likely running on top of the Windows Core OS, but the UI bears little resemblance to Windows 10.

Microsoft is also working on a new Modern Windows OS, as revealed at Computex this year, and we also know that Xbox Scarlett is releasing next year, so it will be interesting to see how Core OS is going to tie-in with all the new systems.