Everything We Know About Project Helix, the Next Xbox
Microsoft is developing Project Helix, its next-generation Xbox, as the company seeks to maintain a place in the console market after weak sales of the Series X and S. The reported plan is for a high-performance, Windows-based system that can play both Xbox and PC games, potentially blurring the line between consoles and gaming computers.
A Fortune report puts the projected price at $1,200 to $1,800, though Microsoft could subsidise the hardware, and says the console is planned for the 2028 holiday season. That would be later than earlier expectations of a 2027 launch; Microsoft has said developers will receive “alpha” hardware in 2027. A separate next-generation handheld is reportedly planned for the 2027 holiday season, while memory shortages and rising hardware costs are among the factors shaping the timing and price.
In short
- Project Helix is planned for the 2028 holiday season.
- Its projected price is $1,200 to $1,800.
- The Windows-based system is expected to play Xbox and PC games.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A powerful Xbox that plays both console and PC games could give players a broader library and more flexibility, while helping Microsoft distinguish its hardware in a difficult console market. A later launch could give developers time to prepare and allow component costs or supply constraints to ease, and any subsidy could make the system more accessible than its reported price suggests.
The case against
A reported price of $1,200 to $1,800 would put the system beyond many console buyers and could make a Windows-based hybrid less appealing than a more affordable, straightforward console. Delaying the launch until 2028 may also leave Microsoft’s current hardware at a disadvantage for longer, while PC game compatibility could add complexity without guaranteeing enough exclusive appeal to sustain the Xbox console market.