More details on the XBOX Helix: A handheld console in 2027 and a home console in 2028, priced between $1,200 and $1,800
, by Thibaut
In an interview with Fortune, Asha Sharma, CEO of XBOX, discussed the brand’s future and plans for the next generation of consoles. Suffice it to say, the article revealed a great deal.
First, XBOX plans to release a portable by the end of 2027. The next-gen home console, meanwhile, will likely be released a year later, at the very end of 2028. Additionally, the price of the console is expected to range from $1,200 to $1,800, unless Microsoft subsidizes part of the cost.
Regarding XBOX Game Pass, Sharma plans to launch an à la carte model that will allow players to select their benefits. For example, it will be possible to choose only online multiplayer, the console game catalog, or cloud gaming.
On a much less cheerful note, the next waves of layoffs will likely take place as early as November 2026 and January 2027. Furthermore, tensions have reportedly flared up at Microsoft regarding the nature of the operating system for the upcoming portable console. Windows executives wanted to use a stripped-down version of Windows Home, while Sharma’s team wanted to develop its own OS to optimize gaming performance.
The situation escalated, with a senior XBOX executive threatening to cancel the portable console rather than see it run on Windows. Ultimately, XBOX has regained full control over the direction of the operating system, and the two sides continue to collaborate closely.
Finally, Asha Sharma spoke about her experience as CEO and her long-term vision.
It’s hard to be a first-time CEO … where everybody sees everything you do. We are trying to get done an inordinate amount of things in an inordinate amount of time. The benefit of everybody caring is that you’re going to be able to pick out things that people really care about to actually make our product better.
We’re not here to do the minimum viable thing to just have a good business. We’re here to be the No. 1 entertainment company. As a leader, you’re taught to be confident, and I think being curious is way more important. If you’re confident, you might be right, and if you’re curious, you will find a better way. If people understand what’s happening, they will come up with better ideas to fix it than anyone else will."
Source: fortune.com