XBOX CEO Asha Sharma has revealed that Project Helix is being developed as a “family of devices.” It adds a new detail to Microsoft’s next-generation plans. Sharma made the comment during an interview with BBC News at gamescom 2026.
Until now, XBOX has described Project Helix as its next-generation first-party console. At GDC in March, the company said Helix will use a custom AMD SoC and play XBOX console and PC games. XBOX also plans to begin shipping alpha hardware to developers in 2027.
Sharma didn’t explain what the wider Helix family includes. XBOX hasn’t said what those other devices are.
Project Helix Now Has a ‘Family of Devices’
The new detail came after BBC News discussed XBOX’s newly announced disc-to-digital entitlement program with Sharma. When asked whether that move meant Project Helix would be disc-less, she didn’t answer directly. Instead, Sharma said XBOX has been working on its next generation and a “great family of devices for Helix.” She added that the company will share more soon.
The March reveal didn’t mention a device family. At GDC, XBOX introduced Project Helix as its next-generation first-party console. The company also confirmed a custom AMD SoC and support for both XBOX console and PC games.
Sharma didn’t identify any other devices. We still don’t know what XBOX includes under the Helix family. It’s also unclear whether every device would share the same capabilities already announced for the main console.
Affordability and Efficiency Join Performance
Sharma also gave more detail on what XBOX is prioritizing for its next generation. Performance remains part of the plan, along with the ability to play console and PC games on Project Helix.
She said the industry now needs to innovate around “affordability and efficiency.” When BBC News asked what she meant by efficiency, Sharma pointed to storage, memory, component costs, and price per unit.
Those concerns have become increasingly relevant for XBOX this year. In June, the company said console storage costs were more than twice what it paid the previous fall. XBOX said those costs had doubled again since then. It also said new business models and partnerships were needed for its console business while it remained committed to Helix.
Later that month, XBOX announced another worldwide console price increase that took effect on August 1. The company said storage and memory prices had increased by more than 2.5 times. It expects costs to keep rising.
XBOX Hasn’t Defined the Helix Device Family Yet
The biggest unanswered question is what XBOX means by a family of Project Helix devices.
Sharma’s comments don’t confirm a dedicated cloud device, a handheld, multiple traditional consoles, or any other specific configuration. They also don’t establish whether every Helix device would support the console and PC game compatibility already announced for Project Helix.
What they do confirm is that XBOX is now talking about Helix as more than one device. Elsewhere in the BBC interview, Sharma said console remains a large part of XBOX’s core. At the same time, the company continues to offer other ways to access XBOX.
Project Helix is still XBOX’s next-generation first-party console. Now we also know XBOX is working on a wider family around it. The company hasn’t told us what those additional devices are yet.
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