Xbox announces next-gen console ‘Project Helix’

"Project Helix will lead in performance and play your Xbox and PC games” The post Xbox announces next-gen console ‘Project Helix’ appeared first on NME. NewsGaming News Xbox announces next-gen console ‘Project Helix’ "Project Helix will lead in performance and play your Xbox and PC games” By Ali Shutler 6th March 2026 The current line-up of Xbox consoles. CREDIT: Microsoft Microsoft has officially announced that the next-generation Xbox console is being developed under the codename Project Helix. READ MORE: Xbox Game Pass 2026: what’s new and what’s worth playing? Last year, former Xbox boss Sarah Bond said “the next-gen console is going to be a very premium, very high-end curated experience.” She added that fans could see “some of the thinking” with their handheld PC/Xbox hybrid, the ROG Xbox Ally. Advertisement Bond had also said the new Xbox would “deliver the next generation of graphics innovation [and] unlock a deeper level of visual quality, immersive gameplay and player experiences enhanced with the power of AI.” She also promised it would be “fully compatible” with users’ existing Xbox game library. Since then, there have been rumours about a $1000 price tag, a 2027 release date and Microsoft scrapping consoles completely. Following the departure of Bond and Phil Spencer earlier this month, new Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma has now officially confirmed the next-generation of Xbox. “Great start to the morning with Team Xbox, where we talked about our commitment to the return of Xbox including Project Helix, the code name for our next generation console,” Sharma wrote on X yesterday (March 5). “Project Helix will lead in performance and play your Xbox and PC games.” More details are expected to be revealed next week at GDC Festival Of Gaming. Great start to the morning with Team Xbox, where we talked about our commitment to the return of Xbox including Project Helix, the code name for our next generation console. Project Helix will lead in performance and play your Xbox and PC games. Looking forward to chatting about… pic.twitter.com/Xx5rpVnAZI — Asha (@asha_shar) March 5, 2026 Earlier this week, it was reported that Sony will stop releasing exclusive PlayStation titles on PC, due to the new Xbox’s ability to play PC games. “A faction within PlayStation has also expressed concern that releasing their games on PC risks damaging the console’s brand and will hurt sales of the PlayStation 5 and its successors, according to the people familiar with Sony’s inner workings,” explained a Bloomberg article. Recommended Both the PS6 and the new Xbox were expected to launch next year but according to reports, that’s now a “best case scenario” with a 2029 release possible due to memory card supply issues. In other news, The Pokémon Company has responded to Donald Trump’s White House sharing a “Make America Great Again” Pokopia meme on social media. Related TopicsXboxXbox Series X/S You May Also Like Advertisement TRENDING James Ford talks us through the huge new War Child ‘Help(2)’ album – track-by-track The Kooks to play The Great Escape 20th anniversary show presented by NME ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ review: Tommy Shelby is back in business The biggest video game concerts you can’t miss in 2026 Chalk’s uncompromising dance-punk is fuelled by personal vulnerability and political questioning Advertisement More Stories Gaming News Next-gen Xbox will launch in 2027 as a “best case scenario” Gaming News Everything announced at the first Xbox showcase of 2026 Gaming News Xbox sales were worst ever in 2025 Gaming News You can buy Crocs that look like an Xbox controller Gaming News Xbox fans can’t get hold of new handheld ROG Ally X console Gaming News The new Xbox is rumoured to cost at least $1000