Xbox hints at multiple next-generation devices with Project Helix

Xbox is developing a “great family of devices” as part of Project Helix, the company’s next-generation gaming platform, according to Xbox CEO Asha Sharma. The comments suggest Microsoft may be preparing more than one piece of hardware for its next console generation.

Sharma revealed Project Helix shortly after becoming CEO of Xbox, describing it as the code name for the company’s next-generation console. However, speaking to BBC News at gamescom 2026, she indicated that the project has expanded into a broader hardware strategy rather than focusing on a single console.

Xbox is developing multiple Helix devices

Sharma did not provide specific details about the devices currently being developed under Project Helix. However, her description of a “great family of devices” suggests Xbox may be planning a range of hardware for different types of players and gaming environments.

The company has not confirmed how many devices are in development or how they will differ. It is also unclear whether the devices will launch at the same time or whether Microsoft plans to introduce different products over a longer period.

The comments come as Microsoft continues to broaden the role of Xbox beyond a traditional console. The company has increasingly focused on making its games available across consoles, PCs and other platforms, while also expanding the ways players can access its gaming ecosystem.

Sharma said Xbox would “continue to push the boundaries of performance” with its next-generation hardware. The statement suggests that performance will remain an important part of Microsoft’s strategy as it develops the successor to its current Xbox consoles.

Helix is designed to bridge console and PC gaming

Sharma also reiterated that Project Helix will be capable of playing both console and PC games. The statement further indicates that Microsoft wants its next-generation hardware to bring the two gaming experiences closer together.

It remains unclear, however, whether every device in the Helix family will support both types of games. With Sharma referring to a “family of devices”, Xbox could potentially be developing different products with different capabilities, although the company has not confirmed such a strategy.

The comments came in response to a question about whether the next Xbox would be a disc-less device. Sharma did not directly answer that question, leaving the future of physical media on Xbox hardware uncertain.

The issue of physical games has become increasingly important as console makers move towards digital distribution. Sony announced last month that PlayStation would move fully towards digital gaming and stop making disc-based games by 2028. That decision could put further pressure on Microsoft and other console manufacturers to define how physical media will fit into their future hardware plans.

For now, Xbox has not confirmed whether any Helix device will include a disc drive. It is also unclear whether physical games will continue to be supported through external drives or other methods. More information is expected as Microsoft provides further details about its next-generation plans.

Developer hardware is expected next year

While Xbox has kept most technical details about Project Helix private, Sharma confirmed that developers are expected to receive early versions of the hardware next year. These alpha versions will allow game developers to begin testing their software on the new platform ahead of its eventual release.

The reference to “alpha versions” indicates that the hardware supplied to developers will not necessarily represent the final consumer products. Development hardware is commonly used to help studios optimise games and identify technical issues while a new platform is still being designed.

The timing also suggests that Microsoft is moving into a more advanced stage of development for its next-generation Xbox hardware. Developers receiving hardware next year would allow them to work on games well before the new system reaches consumers.

It remains unknown when Microsoft plans to officially launch Project Helix or how the different devices could be positioned within the Xbox range. The company has also yet to announce pricing, final specifications or the design of the hardware.

Sharma’s latest comments nevertheless provide a clearer picture of Microsoft’s direction. Rather than treating the next Xbox as a single successor to the current generation, the company appears to be building a broader platform that could include multiple devices and a closer connection between console and PC gaming. Xbox is expected to reveal more about Project Helix in the coming months.