Microsoft Balances Performance with Affordability Ahead of Next-Gen Xbox Launch

The next Xbox console, codenamed Project Helix, is expected to be incredibly powerful. However, performance does not come cheap, and the price tag has been a major consideration for Microsoft. In an interview with the BBC, Asha Sharma, head of Xbox, acknowledged that efficiency and affordability are now just as important as performance.

Sharma emphasized that gamers love physical media and want to make sure they have a choice between digital and physical games. The next-gen console's price tag is still unclear, but Microsoft has launched a program to digitize Xbox discs, which requires a disc drive. Whether or not the Helix will have a disc drive is still uncertain.

The potential for a disc-less console raises concerns about game storage and costs. Sharma noted that many gamers already own stacks of physical games, which could be a consideration for Microsoft's design choices.