This is (was) the danger of waiting so long to announce the console.
Microsoft allowed others to establish the narrative about the next Xbox, and unfortunately, it is predominantly bad. It's reaching a point where it has to respond to rumors or risk further damage to its product.
I don't see the argument where waiting until May to announce makes sense. The number one rule of bad PR is to get ahead of the story.
True words. They need to say something... today.