Microsoft is reportedly preparedness to initiate an Xbox “next-generation handheld device” for the holiday period of 2027. The Xbox next-gen console, codename Project Helix, would afterward initiate in the holidays of 2028, according to a new report from Fortune.
The study doesn’t create it apparent whether the handheld would be made by a manufacturer akin Asus, or by Microsoft itself. Xbox teamed up alongside Asus for its Xbox Ally devices, which ran a modified type of Windows 11 alongside an Xbox manner enabled. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has additionally described Project Helix as a “family of devices,” suggesting that Microsoft’s next Xbox console may not be fair one part of hardware.
Last twelvemonth Microsoft and AMD announced a “strategic multi-year partnership” to activity together on “a portfolio of devices,” including Microsoft’s next-generation console. It seems increasingly apt that this volition contain a range of “Xbox” devices, operating on AMD’s new chips.
The regular next-generation Xbox console may not attain until 2028, though. Fortune reports that Microsoft is currently projecting that its Xbox Project Helix console may disbursal “between $1,200 to $1,800” for consumers, unless Microsoft is consenting to subsidize the disbursal of the hardware.
Microsoft’s Windows and Xbox teams have additionally reportedly conflicted complete what application volition power the next-gen Xbox. That’s not terribly amazing stated the two teams have conflicted multiple times complete the former 25 years of Xbox. It appears akin Xbox is now controlling the direction of the application on Helix, though.
The study additionally touches on the rumored changes to Xbox Game Pass. Last duration rumors emerged that Microsoft was operating on an overhaul to Game Pass that volition create tiers alongside or without ads, much akin Netflix and another streaming services. Fortune says Xbox is looking at including add-ons for console-only games, haze gaming, and multiplayer. This would create Game Pass a lot additional flexible, but it’s not apparent what happens to day one games and the general cost of Game Pass.
One of Sharma’s archetypal big moves as Xbox CEO was reversing the Game Pass cost hikes, following she admitted internally that “Game Pass has rotate into too costly for players.” Xbox dropped forthcoming Call of Duty titles from day one on Game Pass, and brought prices rear downward for its subscription service.
Fortune additionally reports that Sharma is preparedness a caller circular of Xbox layoffs this month, followed by additional in November and January.
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