Xbox Project Helix console reportedly priced $1,200-$1,800, due 2028
Fortune reports Microsoft's internal projections put the next Xbox at $1,200 to $1,800 without subsidies, with a handheld said to arrive first in 2027.
Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox console, codenamed Project Helix, could cost between $1,200 and $1,800 and launch in time for the 2028 holiday season, according to a report from Fortune. The outlet’s sources also say a next-generation Xbox handheld is planned for the 2027 holiday season. Microsoft has not announced pricing or a launch window for either device.
The reported details
Fortune says Microsoft’s internal projections have the Helix console costing consumers $1,200 to $1,800, unless the company chooses to subsidize the hardware and take a loss on each unit. The report gives no price or other specifications for the handheld. The Verge notes that it is unclear whether the handheld would be built by Microsoft itself or by a partner such as Asus, which worked with Xbox on the Xbox Ally devices.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has described Project Helix as a “family of devices,” which suggests it covers more than one piece of hardware. Microsoft and AMD announced a multi-year partnership last year to work on “a portfolio of devices,” including the next-generation console.
The report also describes internal friction. The Windows team reportedly wanted the handheld to run a trimmed-down version of Windows Home, while the Xbox team pushed for dedicated software. GameSpot, summarizing the report, says an unnamed senior Xbox executive threatened to cancel the handheld rather than use Windows. Xbox is now said to be largely steering the handheld’s operating system. Sharma told Fortune the teams work together: “We can’t build Helix on our own.”
GamesRadar adds that Fortune’s sources say internal engineering deadlines for Helix were moved up by several months, putting pressure on developers to work faster, even if that means using AI.
Why it matters
Platform holders have sometimes sold consoles at a loss and made the money back on software and services. GameSpot points out that Phil Spencer, then Xbox chief, said Microsoft was losing as much as $200 on every Series X and S sold at their 2020 launch. Whether Microsoft would absorb a loss on Helix is the open variable in the reported price range.
GameSpot suggests the ongoing AI-driven memory and component shortages may be pushing console costs up. GamesRadar says analysts have been predicting $1,000 consoles for some time, and that such prices are expected to hurt growth of the next-generation console market for both Xbox and PlayStation.
The report lands during a turbulent stretch for the division. Sharma became Xbox CEO in February and has laid off staff, closed studios and cancelled games. GamesRadar reports that 1,868 of a planned 3,200 jobs have been cut, with more rounds expected in the coming months, including November and January. Fortune also says Xbox is considering an overhaul of Game Pass with add-ons such as console-only games, cloud gaming and multiplayer, though The Verge notes it is unclear what that means for day-one releases or the subscription’s price.
What we don’t know yet
Microsoft has not confirmed any of the figures or dates. It is not stated who would manufacture the handheld, what it would cost, or whether the $1,200 to $1,800 range will survive if Microsoft decides to subsidize the console.
Sources
This story was compiled from the sources above with AI assistance and checked against them before publishing. How we work.