Today, during the Xbox Developer Summit at GDC, Microsoft’s VP of Next Generation Jason Ronald revealed new details about its next-generation Xbox console, Project Helix.
Project Helix is deep in development, with a core emphasis on development surrounding pushing the boundaries of rendering and simulation in partnership with AMD, using FSR Next to power what comes next. The company states that the console will deliver a huge leap in ray-tracing performance and capabilities, integrate intelligence directly into the graphics and compute pipelines, and drive meaningful gains in efficiency, scale, and visual ambition.
Alpha versions of the Project Helix will be shipped to developers beginning in 2027, suggesting the console might launch either later that year or in 2028. Xbox plans to make the Xbox experience consistent across screens, something they’ve already started with the ROG Xbox Ally launch last year and plan to continue with the rollout of “Xbox Mode” on Windows 11 in April 2026.
Xbox mode will roll out to Windows in select markets, bringing the familiar Xbox experience to players while preserving the flexibility and openness of Windows, enabling seamless switching between productivity and play. The showcase also emphasized that the Xbox Play Anywhere catalog now spans more than 1,500 games, creating a powerful opportunity to reach players seamlessly across console and Windows.
“After debuting an early version with the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds, today I’m excited to share that we are bringing the same innovation to Windows 11 with Xbox mode that begins rolling out in April, starting with select markets. Xbox mode lets players seamlessly switch between productivity and play, with a familiar full screen and controller optimized Xbox experience while embracing the openness of Windows.”
While we did get a good tease from GDC, we don’t yet know when the console will be fully revealed, especially what the actual model will look like, size-wise. While you wait, if you want to know more about the Xbox business, you can check out our latest article about Microsoft’s quarterly financial performance, which was shared in late January.
We’ve also got plenty of news on other upcoming Xbox and Microsoft titles, including Forza Horizon 6, so be sure to check the rest of Simulation Daily for more content.
