Microsoft has officially pulled back the curtain on its future hardware plans, confirming that its next-generation console is currently in deep development.
Speaking at the 2026 Game Developer Conference, Jason Ronald, Vice President of Next Generation at Xbox, shared more about the upcoming system codenamed Project Helix.
The new console is being built in close partnership with AMD to push the limits of modern gaming. Ronald stated that “Project Helix is designed to play your Xbox console and PC games, delivering leading performance and ushering in the next generation of console gaming.” The system will utilize a custom AMD chip and “FSR Next” technology to provide a massive jump in visual fidelity.
According to Microsoft, the hardware is designed to deliver “an order of magnitude leap in ray tracing performance and capability” while integrating intelligence directly into the graphics pipeline. While fans are eager to get their hands on the new machine, they will have to wait a bit longer, as Ronald noted, “I’m excited to share we plan to ship alpha versions of the hardware to developers beginning in 2027.”
Beyond new hardware, Microsoft is also blurring the lines between PC and console gaming. Starting this April, a new Xbox mode will begin rolling out to Windows 11 users in select markets. This feature, which was first tested on handhelds like the ROG Xbox Ally, allows PC gamers to switch to a full-screen, controller-optimized interface that mimics the console experience.
As Xbox prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary later this year, the company reaffirmed its commitment to its massive library of titles. Ronald promised that the team is “committed to keeping games from four generations of Xbox playable for years to come.”
The Xbox Play Anywhere catalog has also reached a new milestone, now spanning more than 1,500 games that allow players to move between screens without losing progress.
