Xbox is already sending out gift packages to select content creators for its in-development Project Helix console. Microsoft has yet to officially reveal its next Xbox console, with the successor to the Series X/S still in development.
While Microsoft has yet to officially give fans their first look at the next Xbox console, the company has begun to share some early teasers. New Microsoft CEO Asha Sharma stated that the new console will “lead in performance” and will boast the ability to play both Xbox and PC games on the platform. Xbox’s VP of Next-Gen Jason Ronald also shared some big improvements coming to Project Helix at the 2026 Game Developers Conference, teasing features like enhanced ray tracing, neural rendering, and more. Now, Microsoft is starting to send out exclusive merchandise to promote the next-generation Xbox console.
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Xbox is Sending Out Exclusive Project Helix Merch
Multiple popular gaming industry content creators have reported receiving special Project Helix merch from Xbox. The care packages personally prepared by the gaming juggernaut include some unique apparel emblazoned with the Project Helix logo, featuring a hat, T-shirt, and more. The Project Helix gifts come with a card hand-signed by Asha Sharma as well, thanking the recipients for “being on the journey” with Xbox as it gears up to unveil its next home console. Project Helix currently stands as the development codename for Xbox’s next-gen console, with an official moniker for the platform not revealed yet.
The exclusive Project Helix merch could hint at some major plans for Xbox throughout 2026. While Microsoft has revealed little information about the company’s next hardware, fans have speculated that the company could be planning an official reveal for 2026’s Xbox Games Showcase. Microsoft will also mark a major milestone later in the year that may serve as a target for a Project Helix announcement, with the Xbox brand celebrating the 25th anniversary of the original Xbox’s launch on November 15. Jason Ronald also confirmed that alpha devkits for Project Helix will be given out to developers in 2027.
The upcoming launch of Project Helix has seen numerous concerns about the potential price point for the console. The recent shortage of RAM chips has caused major issues for both manufacturers and game studios, with the price of game consoles potentially seeing significant increases. Popular industry insider Moore’s Law is Dead also shared some concerning projections for the price of Project Helix, suggesting that it could cost at least $1,000 at launch, given the components being used for the console.
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Xbox’s new home console will likely be the next big step in a push for Microsoft’s gaming brand from its new boss. Asha Sharma wasted no time in addressing fan concerns about Xbox’s move to multi-platform games after her appointment as CEO, hinting at shifting the company’s position back toward exclusives. Xbox CCO Matt Booty echoed Sharma’s sentiments about Microsoft Gaming moving forward, suggesting that the studio is “built around being first-party,” with no intentions to step away from focusing its games on the Xbox audience. Xbox fans should have plenty of reason to be excited with big things on the horizon for Microsoft’s gaming branch.
