Everything we know about Project Helix, the next Xbox

As a result, Microsoft has abandoned the last vestiges of console exclusivity for any of its games, even including Xbox stalwarts like Halo, Forza, and Gears of War. Exclusivity to Game Pass on day one took the place the consoles had once occupied. But that service seems to have hit its ceiling, long before it can pay for itself. Microsoft has finally solved the drought of first-party games that plagued it during the Xbox One era and the first years of the Xbox Series — but, ironically, it has nowhere useful to put all those games (other than on PC and PS5).

All that being the case, predictions of the death of Xbox consoles are not hard to come by. But Microsoft has already announced the next generation of Xbox console. What form will it take? Here’s what we know so far.

What is the latest news about the next Xbox?

Microsoft has formally announced its next-generation Xbox console and given it a name, or at least a code name: Project Helix. Microsoft Gaming’s new CEO, Asha Sharma, confirmed that the new console will play “Xbox and PC games,” something that had been widely reported, and strongly hinted by Microsoft itself, but not stated outright.

Sharma also said Project Helix “will lead in performance,” which is consistent with Microsoft’s earlier characterization of the next Xbox as a “very premium, very high end” device, as well as reports that it will outperform the next PlayStation — albeit at a higher price.

Although there was scant new information in the announcement, by formailzing the code name, Sharma is moving quickly to reassure fans and underline Microsoft’s commitment to new Xbox hardware. She said she would discuss the console with partners at the Game Developers Conference, where there will also be a presentation titled “Building for the future with Xbox.”

What is Project Helix’s release date?

According to a comment from the CEO of chip supplier AMD, as well as the most recent report from Windows Central’s Jez Corden, Project Helix is tentatively scheduled for a late 2027 release date. This is consistent with an industry-standard seven-year lifespan for the Xbox Series consoles, which launched in late 2020. It’s also consistent with Sony’s planned release date for PlayStation 6.

Or at least, it was. Sony is reportedly pushing PS6’s debut back to 2028 or even 2029 due to the RAM crisis which is causing chip shortages and price spikes for all kinds of computing hardware, as the world’s supply of computer memory is snapped up by tech giants building out AI datacenters.

There’s been no word yet on whether the next Xbox could see a similar delay. It seems likely; Microsoft isn’t immune to the same market forces (despite contributing to their creation with its aggressive datacenter construction). Too high a price point could prove fatal to Project Helix. On the other hand, the current Xbox isn’t selling, so Microsoft has less to lose and more to gain from an early launch than Sony. One reason Xbox 360 remains the most successful Xbox is that it stole a one-year lead on the delayed PS3.

What will Project Helix’s price be?

It’s too early to safely predict pricing for the next-generation Xbox console, especially considering the current turmoil in the electronics market. Valve says it’s currently unable to set a price for Steam Machine, which is supposed to launch this year — never mind a device that could be two or more years away.

We should expect Project Helix to be pricier than previous generations, however. Rather than get cheaper over time, the Xbox Series consoles have seen multiple price increases, with the Xbox Series X currently retailing for $650. It seems highly unlikely that a more powerful successor could launch below this price point.

It gets worse. Former Xbox executive Sarah Bond said the next Xbox would be a “very premium, very high end” device, which is clear code for “very expensive.” Reports indicate that it will be a Windows-based device akin to a powerful gaming PC. Microsoft recently put a $1000 price tag on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X handheld. Could we see the same for its next home console?

Image: Microsoft/Asus

Will Project Helix be a PC?

Yes, pretty much. Microsoft has confirmed that Project Helix will play “your Xbox and PC games.” Reporting from multiple sources as well as public comments made by Bond strongly suggest that the next Xbox is a Windows-based device. Windows Central’s Corden reports that the Xbox Ally handheld is “essentially an early version of what the next Xbox is going to be like.” The Ally’s Xbox Full Screen Experience gives Windows a console-like interface that will work with controllers and TV displays.

There are positives and negatives to this Windows approach. Positives: Project Helix, as hinted by Bond, will be an open platform able to run other stores and game launchers, like Steam and Battle.net, giving Xbox players access to an unimaginably vast library of games.

The downside? Windows is not an elegant or efficient platform for gaming, and based on mixed results with the Xbox Ally, the Full Screen Experience in its current form needs a lot of work before it’s as reliable and quick to use as other console interfaces.

Will Project Helix be backward-compatible?

Yes! Microsoft has already committed to this, despite the machine’s similarity to a PC.

Currently, Windows gaming devices like the Xbox Ally don’t play Xbox console games. But, announcing Microsoft’s partnership with AMD on the new machine, Bond vowed “compatibility with your existing library of Xbox games.”

It’s not clear how Microsoft’s engineers will achieve this, but it’s a must for the new console. From Xbox One onward, Xbox has spearheaded a backward-compatibility drive that forced the hand of Sony and Nintendo, and set in stone players’ expectations that they can carry their game libraries forward. There’s no going back now.

What games will Project Helix have?

It’s too early to name next-gen Xbox titles with any certainty, particularly with the possibility that the console will be delayed past 2027.

It’s worth pointing out that its library will be quite unlike any console’s before it, though. If Microsoft continues with its current strategy, Project Helix may have no exclusive games at all. On the other hand, it will be able to run vast numbers of PC titles, past and present. As long as they play well with a controller, you should be able to load them.

In terms of Microsoft-published titles that are likely to launch on Project Helix, The Elder Scrolls 6 is perhaps the biggest. A full-blown new Halo game, following this year’s Halo: Campaign Evolved remake, would make a good partner for a new console. Among third-party games, Larian’s new Divinity seems a likely bet for next-gen. And perhaps The Witcher 4 will end up as a next-gen, or cross-gen, title.

Image: Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda Softworks

What are Project Helix’s tech specs? How powerful will it be?

Nothing has been announced about the next Xbox’s technical makeup yet, beyond the fact that Microsoft will partner with AMD once again — just like Sony. The two console makers have used similar AMD architectures in their last two generations, making third-party developers’ lives much easier.

Just like PS6, Project Helix is reportedly based on AMD’s forthcoming Zen 6 processor and RDNA 5 graphics unit. And just like PS6, the target performance is 4K resolution at 120 frames per second (which is not to say that all games will hit this target — far from it).

However, there are rumors that Microsoft is looking to substantially outgun its rival on power this time around. Moore’s Law is Dead says the final silicon has a larger die size than PS6’s, is more similar to a PC than a console design, and will be both more powerful and more expensive than the Sony device. These reports are consistent with bullish comments made by former Xbox boss Bond in 2024. She said the Xbox team was targeting “the largest technical leap you will have ever seen in a hardware generation.”

More power than PS6 for a higher price: It’s a risky strategy that hasn’t been tried in the console market for a long time. Will it work?