- Reputable tipster suggests Xbox Project Helix console may cost more than $1,000
- Microsoft CEO affirms that he will “always” invest in games
- Project Helix may have trouble competing in the console space above $1,000
Microsoft has recently undergone major management changes, with the resignation of Xbox heads Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond. However, plans for a premium next-generation gaming console are apparently still alive and well.
According to renowned source Moore’s Law Is Dead (MLID), Xbox’s next-gen Project Helix console could “probably” cost $1,000 or more, similar to the price of the ROG Xbox Ally X handheld. This comes after Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella promised that the company would “always” keep its focus on gaming alive, as reported by Windows Central.
It’s been long rumored and now finally confirmed that the next Xbox console will be a hybrid PC that will be able to play both Xbox and PC games, which is a completely new strategy for Xbox. It puts Project Helix in direct competition with Valve’s upcoming Steam Machine, which will bring Steam games to the console gaming market.
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MLID’s price claim is apparently more speculation based on current market conditions and possible Project Helix hardware specifications, rather than a “leak.” However, if the alleged price region is accurate, Nadella’s message may not align well with the expectations of Xbox fans and consumers.
“To me, we’ve been betting on games for a long time,” Nadella said. “We will continue to invest [in gaming]and we always will.”
While the clear goal is to maintain Xbox’s presence in the console market, a new standard in pricing, which may indeed be for a high-end hybrid gaming PC, will likely put Project Helix out of the competition in the console market.
Clearly, Project Helix is still in an early stage, and with the RAM crisis causing the prices of most PC hardware to skyrocket, it’s no surprise that the next-gen Xbox console is expected to be expensive for consumers.
Sony’s next PlayStation console is still expected to launch in 2027, as is Project Helix, with the latter supposedly being the more powerful console, and if the PS6 launches at a more affordable price, it may serve as another dent in Microsoft’s gaming efforts.
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