The next generation of Xbox will begin with a top-notch console, as promised by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma. However, she was clear that the console is merely the start. At a town hall meeting within the company, according to reports, Sharma stated to employees that Microsoft has more extensive plans for its hardware than just one box.
This provides a clearer picture of what we can expect from the next line of Xbox products.
Table of Contents
A Great Console First
Windows Central has reported on these comments by quoting from a transcript of a town hall meeting within the Xbox team that took place during early October of 2026. According to reports, Sharma referred to Gen-10 as a family of devices, adding that Microsoft will certainly have a great console first.
She also indicated that the company was looking at a broader strategy for hardware to meet the needs of many types of customers.
Her reason was quite straightforward: no single device can satisfy every person. If her company does create a great home video game console, many people still won’t purchase it. Many others, she stated, will be mobile, a clear reference to the increasing popularity of handheld gaming devices.
The statements seem to serve, in some capacity, as an assurance to staff. It has been a difficult time for Xbox. However, the point being made is that the company’s gaming strategy will continue.
In addition, the comments provide some further details on the direction the hardware is moving towards.
What is Project Helix
In order to better comprehend the statements, we can refer to what Microsoft has already declared. On March 5, 2026, Sharma stated via an X post that Project Helix would be a “first-of-its-kind” performance leader in gaming and allow users to run games from their Xbox and PC. This was the first occasion Microsoft specifically referred to this dual-platform objective.
Microsoft is calling their new system an updated AMD based replacement for both the Series X & S. They are planning on sending out Alpha units to game developers in 2027. They have said this multiple times. However, Microsoft hasn’t given any indication of when they might release the product, nor have they committed to any specific release date, so if you’re looking for a launch date, you’ll need to continue to wait.
“Family of Devices” Is Not Something New
While the term may have appeared before, the town hall adds some additional context. Sharma first used the term “family of devices” when speaking to the BBC at Gamescom in Cologne during a late August interview.
When asked if Project Helix would be a disc-less gaming system, Sharma didn’t provide a direct answer, stating that Microsoft wasn’t providing any further information regarding Project Helix.
Sharma then stated that the team was developing “a great next generation and a great family of devices,” and there will be more to follow.
In addition to being ambiguous at the time, her use of the term family implied that she was talking about more than just a direct replacement for the Series X. However, she did not elaborate on how many products there would be, how much they would sell for, or when they would be released. Reports from the town hall meeting reportedly provide more information about the subject, but these reports have yet to be verified by Microsoft.
Collaboration With Hardware Companies
The manufacturing line is what makes this a particularly interesting part of the transcript. According to Sharma, Microsoft is capable of being the best at producing certain products and will work with partners for others. Therefore, it is likely that at least one of the devices in the “Helix” generation will be produced by an external partner.
A handheld device seems to be the most logical choice. Last year, Microsoft teamed up with Asus to create two handheld gaming systems called “ROG Xbox Ally” and “Ally X”. At that time, Microsoft admitted they did not have any experience in developing handheld games.
This same rationale can easily be used again. Additionally, there were reports prior to this stating that some third-party companies were considering creating their own Helix-based devices. Jason Ronald, who is responsible for developing Xbox hardware, would not say whether or not this was true. He said that Helix will only be sold by Microsoft as a first-party Xbox Console.
Will Helix Be Able To Play Physical Games
At the moment, perhaps the greatest unanswered question is regarding discs. During her BBC interview, Sharma stated that players appreciate having options for both physical and digital media.
Therefore, she wishes for players to be able to choose which form of media they would prefer. Although this is positive news, it does not provide an assurance that each Helix device produced will include a disc drive.
The market is also an important factor. Sony is currently experiencing a great deal of negative feedback from its customers about the way they intend to handle future physical releases of their PlayStation games. A different approach by Microsoft can potentially restore some of the trust lost.
The recent expansion of the Xbox Disc-to-Digital program indicates that Microsoft still intends to provide a means to access existing physical libraries. However, this does not indicate that future hardware will incorporate a drive.
A potentially good compromise might involve a modularly designed digital-only console, along with a separately purchasable disc reader.
While Microsoft had previously introduced a digital-only console, it was Sony that combined the use of such a device with a removable disc drive. At present, this option is simply a potentiality.
Some Unanswered Questions
The puzzle is far from complete. There were earlier reports that Helix would allow you to use third-party stores such as Steam and Epic Games Store in addition to the Xbox Store on your computer. However, Microsoft has not verified those reports.
Additionally, we do not currently know how much Helix will cost, what the specs will be, or even how many models there will be within the Helix product line.
