Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has confirmed that Project Helix, previously announced in March as a codename for Microsoft’s next-generation console, will actually launch as a family of devices
rather than a single piece of hardware.
Project Helix to Launch as a Family of Devices
Speaking in an interview with BBC News at Gamescom, Sharma addressed the hardware’s design roadmap. We’ve been hard at work on a great next generation and a great family of devices for Helix, and we’ll share more soon,
Sharma told the BBC when asked if Helix would be a discless console.
The multi-device approach aligns with a strategic multi-year partnership established in 2025 between Microsoft and AMD to work on a portfolio of devices, which includes the next-generation console. Additionally, rumors have circulated that third-party manufacturers may be permitted to sell their own Project Helix devices, a possibility that Xbox Vice President of Next Generation Jason Ronald did not entirely dismiss, noting that Project Helix will be available as a 1st party Xbox console.
Hybrid Gaming and Performance Targets
Project Helix is engineered to support a hybrid gaming model, allowing users to play both Xbox console titles and Windows PC games. Sharma emphasized that Microsoft is targeting three core pillars for the hardware lineup: affordability, efficiency, and performance.
Achieving these targets requires navigating current economic and supply chain challenges. According to Sharma, hardware efficiency regarding memory, storage utilization, and component pricing is vital throughout the next generation. In a June internal memo, the Xbox CEO also noted that the company “needs help” via new business models and hardware partnerships to successfully launch Helix.
The Disc Drive Question and Digital Transition
During her BBC interview, Sharma declined to directly answer whether Project Helix will incorporate a physical disc drive. However, the hardware strategy arrives alongside a new Microsoft program enabling players to digitize physical game libraries into digital licenses.
The shift comes as physical media sales decline sharply in the United States. Data research firm Circana reported that Xbox games accounted for only 4 percent of total revenue from new physical game sales in the U.S. during the first portion of 2026. While the current Xbox Series X features a disc drive, the lower-priced Series S is entirely digital.
Addressing consumer concerns about game ownership and format shifts, Jason Ronald stated during a Gamescom livestream segment, Even as technology changes and formats change, your library shouldn’t.
Sharma further confirmed that Xbox will maintain its long-standing tradition of backward compatibility in future hardware generations.
Launch Timelines and Upcoming Features
Microsoft has not yet announced an official release date or pricing for Project Helix. While AMD has indicated it is prepared to support a hardware launch in 2027, Ronald noted at the Game Developers Conference in March that Project Helix would not reach its alpha development stage until 2027.
Beyond hardware developments, Asha Sharma confirmed that Platinum Achievements are scheduled to roll out to players later this year.
