Microsoft’s next console is officially set to be a hybrid device capable of playing Xbox and PC games. The news was announced by newly-instated Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma, in a social post looking forward to ‘the return to Xbox.’
‘Project Helix will lead in performance and play your Xbox and PC games,’ Sharma announced. ‘Looking forward to chatting about this more with partners and studios at my first GDC next week!’
Project Helix is Xbox’s new console – quick links
What to know about Xbox’s Project Helix console
For now, Sharma’s announcement is all we know of Microsoft’s overarching plans for its Xbox division – although one key tidbit does stand out. Where previously, Xbox consoles were dedicated gaming machines, capable of only playing Xbox titles, the newly-announced Project Helix will also be capable of playing PC games.
Given the lack of details, we can only make assumptions – but it does sound mightily like Project Helix will have PC capabilities, and won’t necessarily be a traditional console by design. At that point, there’s big questions to ask about what will differentiate this device, and whether it will have different or superior capabilities, compared to a dedicated gaming PC.
In the last few years, we’ve seen most Xbox studios transition to a multi-platform release model for games, with even Xbox ‘exclusives’ also being available on PC at launch. If all Xbox games are available on PC anyway, then how will potential customers be convinced of Project Helix’s appeal?
It’s a challenge we’ll likely hear more about in the months (and possibly years) ahead, as Xbox gears up for a more formal announcement that will outline exactly what it’s got planned.
As Sharma revealed, the console will be discussed with Xbox’s partners in the coming week, and while there’s likely to be heavy NDAs in place, there will at least be a growing understanding of this console in the market, and what it means for developers.
What we already know about Xbox’s plans for future consoles
What’s most interesting about this console reveal is how it aligns with Xbox’s previously revealed plans.
In 2023, accidentally unredacted court documents suggested Microsoft was working on multiple new consoles – a digital-only Xbox Series X successor, an improved Series S with better wi-fi and lower power consumption, and a new generation console set to release in 2028.
At the time, this ‘new gen’ console was outlined as a hybrid device designed to leverage ‘the combined power of the client and cloud to deliver deeper immersion and entirely new classes of game experiences.’ The console would be ‘optimised for real time game play and creators’ and feature ‘new levels of performance beyond the capabilities of the client hardware alone.’
Major features included a specialised NPU (Neural Processing Unit), and a focus on ‘graphics innovation’ including raytracing, dynamic global illumination, and ‘super resolution.’
It’s unclear if this theoretical device is the same as the newly-announced Project Helix, but we’d expect the upcoming console was at least inspired by these early plans.
Given this, there’s certainly plenty of intrigue about what’s to come. Those keen to see what’s next will have to stay tuned as Microsoft gears up for its next generation.
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