Upcoming Xbox Project Helix Console Could Reach $1,800
Microsoft's next-generation Xbox hardware might carry a price tag as high as $1,800 due to rising component costs.
Microsoft's upcoming gaming hardware, currently known as Project Helix, could retail for between $1,200 and $1,800. Fortune recently detailed the prospective costs in a profile covering new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma.
The upcoming hardware rollout begins with a portable device planned for the 2027 holiday season. This will be followed by the full console release during the holidays in 2028. Sharma previously indicated that Project Helix would encompass a family of devices.
Component shortages and surging part costs, largely driven by artificial intelligence development, threaten to push prices upward. Microsoft could choose to subsidize the hardware, but without intervention, the steep cost may hinder Sharma's objective of expanding the Xbox audience to one billion daily users.
Potential Hurdle for Growth
With current daily active users sitting at approximately 100 million, a high retail price could complicate expansion efforts. Alternative hardware options like the Steam Machine offer cheaper entry points for consumers.
Industry observers note that the figures could be intentionally inflated to make the eventual final price appear more reasonable by comparison. However, hardware costs remain a significant challenge for the platform.
Changes to Game Pass and Upcoming Staff Reductions
Alongside hardware news, sources indicate that Xbox may restructure Game Pass. The subscription service could adopt an a la carte model featuring separate fees for multiplayer access, cloud streaming, and console-specific titles.
Meanwhile, internal workforce reductions continue. Additional layoffs are anticipated this month, with further cuts scheduled for November and January as part of ongoing downscaling efforts at the company.
