Xbox boss Matty Booty has commented on the upcoming PC/console hybrid device currently in the works under the codename Project Helix. Appearing on the newest Xbox podcast, Booty–who was recently promoted to chief content officer at Xbox–said Microsoft stands apart from other “big publishers” because the company has both hardware and software divisions, and this is helping make Project Helix better.
It’s true that not every publisher has hardware and software divisions, but Microsoft’s biggest competitors–Sony and Nintendo–do. In any event, Booty said Xbox’s hardware and software teams got involved with Project Helix “early on” to map out the vision and technical specs for Helix.
“We’re there every step of the way as these things come along, so it’s an exciting time. As we’ve done with many consoles before, those two teams will work hand-in-hand as we get that together,” he said. “As the hardware comes online, our teams will be the first to get involved. There’s already a lot of that already happening.”
This is “where Xbox really shines and where we stand apart and what shows off what’s unique about us,” Booty added. He said it was an “exciting moment” to announce Project Helix and showcase the synergy between Xbox’s hardware and software teams.
Project Helix was unveiled by Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma in March, at which time she said it would be a hybrid device of sorts that plays PC and Xbox console games. At the Game Developers Conference in March, Xbox next-gen VP Jason Ronald said alpha versions of the system will begin shipping to developers in 2027; as such, no members of the public should expect to be able to buy one of the consoles anytime soon.
“Project Helix is powered by a custom AMD SoC and co-designed for the next generation of DirectX and FSR to unlock what comes next,” Ronald said at GDC. He added that the system will deliver an “order of magnitude leap” for ray tracing performance, and that the system will have “meaningful gains in efficiency, scale, and visual ambition.”
The ambition of Project Helix is to meet players where they are, Ronald said. “We’re breaking down the barriers between console and PC games for more seamless cross-device play, and we’re making the Xbox experience consistent across screens. This also gives developers a simpler, more unified path to reach more players while helping reduce development costs,” he explained.
One of the big unanswered questions about Project Helix is how much it will cost. One industry analyst has predicted a price point of $900 or more. Others have said Project Helix could be a “make-or-break” moment for Microsoft as it relates to gaming hardware.
