Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has finally put much of the speculation surrounding the division’s next-gen devices to rest, telling Fortune that the next console is planned for Holiday 2028. Meanwhile, a “next-generation handheld device” is slated for the 2027 holidays.
While the names for both remain up in the air, they appear to fall under Project Helix, which constitutes multiple devices. You should probably begin saving then because it’s internally projected to cost of $1,200 to $1,800 for the console. Plans to subsidize it also remain unknown.
As for Game Pass, the reported overhaul includes allowing players to choose their features. This will include multiplayer, cloud gaming and “add-ons for console-only games” within a “tiered structure.” Could day-one games also be a part of this à la carte plan? For now, it seems not.
While the release window for the next Xbox console is surprising, especially with so many rumors claiming it’s locked for late 2027, this could be a response to the ongoing memory crisis. Sharma has spoken about how this would impact pricing and availability, and we’ve already seen price hikes for the Xbox Series X/S. Time will tell, but you also have to wonder if this affects Sony’s strategy, especially with the PS6 (and its rumored handheld) allegedly scheduled for next year.
