Full Breakdown
Xbox’s “Project Helix” — What the Upcoming Console Line Looks Like
By Drooid · · How we work
Planned Launch Timeline
Fortune reports that Microsoft is targeting the holiday season of 2027 for a next-generation handheld device, followed by the regular Xbox console in the holiday season of 2028. The company is said to be moving engineering deadlines forward on Project Helix, accelerating hardware development.
Device Scope and Pricing
The same Fortune report indicates that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has described Project Helix as a “family of devices,” implying a range of hardware rather than a single console. The projected consumer price for the core console is between $1,200 and $1,800, though Microsoft could subsidize the cost to lower the retail price. Fortune notes that unless Microsoft is willing to incur substantial losses, the final price is likely to remain above $1,000.
Strategic Partnerships and Technology
Last year Microsoft and AMD announced a multi-year partnership to develop a portfolio of devices, which Fortune links to the upcoming console line and suggests that future Xbox hardware will run on AMD’s next-generation chips.
Software and Service Plans
Fortune highlights ongoing changes to Xbox Game Pass. The service is reportedly being restructured into tiered options with or without ads, and may add separate add-ons for console-only games, cloud gaming, and multiplayer. Additionally, Microsoft has removed future Call of Duty titles from day-one Game Pass access.
Organizational Moves
According to Fortune, Sharma is planning a fresh round of Xbox layoffs this month, with additional cuts slated for November and January. The report ties these workforce reductions to the accelerated hardware schedule and the broader strategic shift toward the Project Helix family of devices.