RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has suggested Project Helix will encompass more than one device, saying that Microsoft has been working on "a great family of devices."
As Microsoft attempts to navigate mass layoffs across its gaming branch , the company has mostly played its cards close to the chest when it comes to its mysterious next-gen Xbox console. Project Helix was formally announced with the promise of PC game-playing capabilities back in March of this year, and now Sharma may be teasing something more.
The Xbox CEO teased some of what's to come for Project Helix during an interview with the BBC at gamescom 2026. While Microsoft wants to stay tight-lipped, some of what she had to say suggested the gaming hardware might be more than a simple box release.
"We're not sharing more on Helix, I know you had to ask it," Sharma said when asked if Project Helix will be a "discless" console. "But look, 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."
With so little to go on, Sharma's comment could mean a lot of things. This past generation, for example, saw the release of not one but two Xbox consoles with its Series X/S releases. The X, considered a more powerful device, features a disc drive, while the S is an all-digital device.
The mention of a "family of devices" for Project Helix doesn't exactly mean that there will be something like a Project Helix Series X/S, but it does suggest Microsoft may be preparing for a next-gen console that could be just as untraditional as the one it follows.
Despite Sharma suggesting in the past that Project Helix may be targeting a holiday 2027 release , we don't know exactly when the new gaming hardware will launch. In June, she acknowledged that a mass audience won't be willing to spend "thousands of dollars" on a "console generation," teasing that Microsoft will explore "new business models" as it looks to the future.
While we wait to see what exactly Project Helix and its family of devices are, you can see why we think the next-gen Xbox console needs to clearly communicate its strengths and be more than a simple Series sequel . While it's unclear if it will allow fans to use physical game discs in a traditional sense , what is clear is that Microsoft will soon allow Xbox fans to digitize their video games .
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
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