Xbox's Project Helix Roadmap Leaks: Handheld Due in 2027, Console Priced Up to $1,800

Microsoft's next-generation Xbox plans are coming into focus, with a new Fortune report detailing a two-device strategy under the Project Helix codename. According to IGN, the report claims Microsoft internally projects its next home console could cost as much as $1,800, with a target release during the 2028 holiday season. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma told Fortune that the company plans to release a next-generation handheld gaming device by the 2027 holiday season, as reported by Kotaku. This handheld would potentially succeed the Xbox Ally X, though Kotaku noted that internal debates continue over which operating system these devices will run. The Game Post reported that Project Helix's console is projected to cost between $1,200 and $1,800, with Microsoft considering subsidizing the hardware. GamingBolt added that the Game Pass overhaul brings à la carte choices, suggesting a shift in how Microsoft packages its subscription service alongside the new hardware. "It's a bold strategy, Cotton." That line from IGN captures the risk involved, especially given Microsoft's current market position. The Game Post noted that current-generation Xbox consoles have sold a little over a third as many units as PlayStation 5, according to third-party estimates cited by Fortune. Hardware costs are climbing across the industry. ComicBook reported that prices for tech components have skyrocketed over the past two years, forcing manufacturers like Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo to increase platform prices. Memory chip shortages are adding further pressure, according to The Game Post. "Over the past two years, prices for tech components have skyrocketed, which has led to manufacturers like Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo being forced to increase the cost of their various platforms." That context helps explain why Microsoft might be weighing a console price point that rivals high-end gaming PCs. GamesRadar+ framed the $1,800 figure as a potential ceiling, while noting the Helix handheld is expected to launch in 2027, ahead of the home console.

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