Microsoft surprised the gaming world last night with a teaser video announcing the codename for its next line of Xbox consoles. It has been nearly six years since the launch of the Xbox Series X|S consoles, and gamers have been anxiously awaiting what Microsoft has in store for a follow-up. Well, the wait for more details could be just around the corner.
The next generation of Xbox console: Project Helix pic.twitter.com/YQUrCgCb9J
— Xbox (@Xbox) March 5, 2026
Not long after the teaser vid dropped, Xbox’s new CEO Asha Sharma posted on social media that more will be revealed at GDC next week. One detail that had been a rumor up until now is that the next gaming console will indeed be a hybrid of sorts in that it will be able to run games made for both PC and Xbox platforms.
Great start to the morning with Team Xbox, where we talked about our commitment to the return of Xbox including Project Helix, the code name for our next generation console.
— Asha (@asha_shar) March 5, 2026
Project Helix will lead in performance and play your Xbox and PC games. Looking forward to chatting about… pic.twitter.com/Xx5rpVnAZI
Project Helix could be a very ambitious new beginning for the Xbox platform, which some have speculated might be abandoned by Microsoft. It also aligns with recent rumors that Microsoft is exploring options to merge PC and Xbox subscription services on Game Pass. Having a console that plays games from both platforms but then has access to its game streaming service with the same options makes perfect sense to keep things streamlined for gamers. The two biggest questions will be specs and pricing.
In regard to specifications, it’s already known that Microsoft and AMD have renewed their partnership, and the next console will once again utilize a custom processor from AMD. Rumors have suggested that Microsoft may opt to use AMD’s “Magnus” solution, which allows a tiled approach whereby the same motherboard can be used in multiple console models, while the tile itself can have parts replaced per configuration needs. This could make for lower costs for Microsoft if it plans to launch base and premium models with Project Helix.
When it comes to pricing, those details become a bit more mysterious. At this point, most are aware of how the ongoing DRAM/NAND chip shortage is affecting prices on a plethora of consumer products. Valve recently admitted that it was having to re-evaluate its options with its suppliers before it could commit to a price for its upcoming Steam Machine. No doubt, both Microsoft and Sony are having to strategically plan with their hardware supply partners to ensure competitive pricing for their next-gen models. That being said, the closest thing we have to facts right now is that Valve’s console might launch this fall, while Microsoft’s and Sony’s could be as far out as 2028.
Discussion (16 replies)
Join Discussion →Saw this coming. Xbox is already basically a PC.
They have all been PCs since the flipping pong box. Ever since Xbox fhe core OS has been the same. They are just more general purpose PCs now.
Sony had already been moving that direction back with the PS2 and PS3. You could order all sorts of accessories which would essentially transform into them a PC, I was keenly interested in this due to the incredible performance of the CPUs but too expensive and it wouldn't have really been worth it due to lack of productivity software. However, it was always fun to see different parts mentioned in the magazines back in the day which were usually only available overseas.
Meanwhile, once MS/Sony committed to using AMD x86 processors I never saw them as anything other than a streamlined gaming focused PC with locked in OSes.
I have a feeling that retro compatibility will come from streaming, like with the Xbox Rog Ally.
I was thinking the same, basically what Sony did for the PS3 titles on 4 and 5.
This looks like what future PC gaming is coming to eventually.
This is what console gaming is coming to. It will be all PC.. You can have a general purpose PC, or a PC built to run games and little else like this or the steam machine. Or you can have a PS5 that only runs sony games, doesn't seem that appealing when put that way.
PCs cannot run xbox games due to a licensing restriction
xbox Helix can play all xbox games & also all PC games
you would need a 'console' to play xbox games that don't have the play anywhere feature
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Its a pc with a special Xbox decoder ring bit. If that's a software bit it will be in PC deaktops not long after release. If it's a dedicated piece.of hardware an unlocker will be along shortly enough.
Smart.thjng to do is MS offers users a qualification to be Xbox compatible that unlocks that feature on PCs.
But I dont think they wil and the community will solve that one.
they can't. it is a legal issue. only the 'console' is allowed to play xbox games
what they can do is allow OEMs to sell the Helix/Magnus hardware as third party consoles. outside of this a normal PC hardware is not legally allowed to play xbox games
btw the architecture of helix is like an igpu & not discrete gpu.
the AT2 in magnus (or AT4 in medusa premium) is treated as an igpu with unified RAM.
I don't think it will even have a "xbox decoder", I mean there is no point on having Xbox exclusives anymore that won't work on PC (xbox exclusives are few and good ones even fewer). As I said before xbox, retro compatibility will most likely be from streaming, why give the player free access to their library when you can charge them a fee to play it?
Tell that to the xbox rog ally (or any other PC that uses Game Pass Ultimate), you can play xbox titles on it... via streaming.
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I don't think this matters. The biggest issue would be QC. Heck you could even sell an USB key that unlocks "xbox" mode and is tied to a active subscription to work (like 5 bucks a month) and people would line up.
What I suspect will happen is MS will try to make XBOX mode exclusive to specific hardware setups and certifications. And in the end will give up. But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.
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