Microsoft's Project Helix Unveiled as Multi-Device Lineup

Microsoft's Project Helix, its next-generation Xbox effort, is no longer just about a single console. According to Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, Project Helix will be a 'great family of devices,' marking a broader hardware strategy than previously acknowledged.

In an interview at gamescom 2026, Sharma declined to answer questions directly about whether the upcoming hardware would abandon physical media, but her description of the project as a 'family of devices' suggests a shift from its initial announcement in March, which framed it as the brand's 'next-generation console.'

The executive reiterated that Helix will support both console and PC games, though it remains unclear whether this capability extends across the entire lineup.

Sharma's comment about PC game compatibility came in response to a question about discless gaming, leaving ambiguity about the range of hardware in development. The 'family of devices' phrasing echoes language from Microsoft's 2025 announcement with AMD, which unveiled a strategic multi-year partnership for a 'portfolio of devices,' including the next-generation console.

The agreement suggests that AMD's silicon will likely power multiple Helix products. Rumors have circulated that third-party manufacturers might be permitted to sell their own Project Helix hardware, but Xbox's vice president of next generation, Jason Ronald, did not dismiss speculation when he said 'Project Helix will be available as a 1st party Xbox console.'

The company has been navigating significant layoffs across its gaming division while keeping details about Helix tightly guarded. Microsoft's previous hardware generation offered a precedent for a multi-device approach: the Xbox Series X and Series S launched simultaneously in 2020, with the former featuring a disc drive and the latter positioned as an all-digital option.

A discless future for gaming hardware is becoming more plausible across the industry. Sony announced in July that PlayStation would transition to a fully digital model, with plans to stop producing disc-based games by 2028. Microsoft itself recently introduced a program allowing Xbox owners to digitize their physical game collections, further blurring the line between physical and digital ownership.