Xbox CEO Asha Sharma: RAM shortage driving new business models for Project Helix console
By
Oli Welsh
Summary
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma discusses how the global RAM shortage is forcing the gaming industry to rethink business models for the upcoming Project Helix console. She advocates for payment plans, hardware partnerships, less powerful console options, and smaller game budgets to address component scarcity and rising costs. The article explores how supply chain constraints are reshaping console strategy and game development economics.
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Key quotes
· 5 pulledThe RAM crisis is unlike anything we've seen in the industry before. It's not just about cost — it's about availability and how that fundamentally changes what we can build.
We need to be honest with players: the era of the all-powerful, affordable console at launch may be behind us. New models like subscriptions, financing, and tiered hardware are essential.
Smaller, more focused games aren't a step backward — they're a strategic necessity when every megabyte of RAM costs a premium.
Partnerships with memory manufacturers and even other platform holders could be the key to securing supply chains for the next generation.
Project Helix represents a philosophical shift. We're not just building a box; we're building a sustainable ecosystem that can weather component shortages.
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