I’d like Xbox to show it off at the showcase to give the Xbox community the first glimpse then do the game awards for the wider market.
I’d love a 2027 launch but I still do think it depends on their progress of smoothing out the issues with windows.
Xbox has already said that the Xbox ROG Ally holds hint for next gen: I think the end goal is to get it super duper heavily optimized (on par with the Steam Deck if not better), and then allow tech savvy gamers to exit out of that experience into full windows. Even now it’s not that difficult to use dev mode on Xbox consoles and put all kinds of junk on them (according to YT channels and random posts I see). Xbox doesn’t seem as interested in locking down their hardware and platform as Nintendo or Sony, and I think they’re keenly aware that that’s one of their draws and will especially be important to this device.
A console experience where I can completely ignore all the PC bullshit and I’m in.
hmm… based
It really is exciting. It feels like we’re approaching a new era in how these software platforms are run. Elsewhere Google as well is finally lining out they will allow independent parent services, lower commissions (to 15 or 20% based on if you’re using their payment services), and officially support third party app stores on android. Xbox is redefining what a console platform is, and I think that’s really going to have an impact on the industry especially with current trends continuing (new gamers not being interested in consoles) and Valve doing something similar. For Xbox this is an evolution that’s been in the making since play anywhere started and I’m glad to see it. I love the idea of a platform with full support for my existing library that’s also a more open ecosystem and supports everything PC has to offer. Also makes me really happy that I chose Xbox as my preferred place to play and primary platform. Nintendo and Sony can’t even give their users free cloud saves and respect their libraries as is. They’ve both also just chosen to double down on their existing strategy locking down their ecosystem further. It’s a choice and one that works for them, but not one that benefits me.
Xbox is pretty locked down, dev mode is still all authorized software by MS tools, not anything goes. It’s by far the most unhackable console system since the XB1, they’ve built every aggressive security measures with it, so I doubt they’re suddenly just gonna let your run piracy land of Windows just as is.
Super hyped!!!
Naming wise, I would go with XBOX 6 (simple, straightforward, etc.) or XBOX PC. Either way, it will definitely be interesting. I wish it was Fall 2027 already!!! lol
Wonder what’s the possibility of this being closed down in order to subsidize and have a competitive price.
The talk at GDC seems to be how to bring PC games to the next Xbox. What if MS is trying to get PC only titles published on the Xbox store, along with support for all MS owned stores like Battle.net so they can have support for stuff like World of Warcraft, and since MS gets their cut, then the next Xbox would be cheaper. You wouldn’t get Steam and EGS, but the possibility of all those games would be there.
and then you’d have OEM consoles with a different hardware that would be full on open Windows for those that want Steam support, but not subsidized since there is no guarantee all purchases would be in the MS store.
That way people decided if they really need all that BC and a more closed ecosystem at a lower price, or full blown PC with a simplified interface.
Either way, I can’t wait to hear more!
That’d be a lof of work for them if it’s truly running native windows. It’ll be interesting to see how it develops and what shape it actually takes. There’s also the elephant in the room of the planned OEMs too. I’m interested to know if those will also be backwards compatible and play native Xbox & PC games. Either way they should encompass all Xbox games moving forward if the windows & xbox version will merge and just be one native version for newly developed games. Then I imagine those OEMs devices will have a different experience in terms of what is and isn’t locked down.
Xbox Helix would be a dope name, but so would have Xbox Scarlet and Xbox Lockhart (Series X and S) or the Xbox Scorpio. They make the coolest project names but unfortunately don’t keep them 
. I get it. Not the most clear to the consumer… of course neither is Xbox Series X & S vs Xbox One X & S vs Xbox 360 vs Xbox. We’re already way past the normal numbering. I say go balls to the walls with it and just have fun. Call it the Xbox Direct X because it’s merger Xbox and Windows. All that said, Microsoft being a modern big tech company I just expect them to name it “Xbox (2026)”. For some reason getting rid of any identifier had become a thing and just slapping the year on it.
No tinkering with settings and all that shit, right? If there’s still two modes like I believe was rumored then we can just solely use console mode. 
If this console runs Steam it’ll kill Xbox. Why wouldn’t it? Look at Resident Evil Requiem: it’s 80 euros on console versus 70 on Steam. Steam also has free multiplayer. It would seem pretty far fetched for Xbox to survive when its own machine lays it out clearly: PC is cheaper.
Now this is no comment on the hardware itself, i.e. let’s hope it’s the ultimate PC gaming system from a “streamlined no B.S.” point of view but for Xbox? I don’t see the angle here.
Maybe. If I have to break out to a "“full Windows” mode or, God forbid, the desktop, then I’d be happy to pay the $10 premium for a better experience. Not to mention, the real answer is I’ll just wait for RE9 to hit Game Pass so who cares if it’s a little cheaper on Steam at launch?
Edit: also is that price gap just a weird Europe thing or what? In the US it’s $70 on Xbox store and $70 on Steam… not saying that means it doesn’t matter but I think their biggest market doesn’t really see this issue.
Pretty much zero at this point. Access to multiple stores is the USP and there is no way they are splitting the user base in that way.
Expect to pay full price for Helix.
Edit to make it clear I don’t think this is a bad thing. It seems to me that the subsidised console model doesn’t make much business sense anymore for a number of reasons e.g. low attach rates from mainstream gamers, focus on store monopolies for devices etc. so best to get out ahead of it.
Hopefully they will keep things like Xbox all access and encourage cheaper (lower spec.) OEM devices to cater for the segments of the market most vulnerable to sticker shock.
I’m just looking at the prices in France. I used MS reward points to knock the price of RE Requiem down from 80 to 60 last week. It comes in handy for purchases like that.
But the online multiplayer is a cross-borders issue and the question remains the same (in the US as well): how would MS theoretically convince people to pay for online for the Xbox versions when the Steam version has free multiplayer? Unless Steam’s multiplayer is also paywalled behind the same subscriptions on this particular system, which is possible.
Exactly this! I wouldn’t find that too exciting either and certainly not a real game changer. Steam and EGS however definitely would be that. I’m super curious how it’s all gonna play out because as others have said…if they have Steam, how is that not gonna “eat” away from their own store? I also really wonder what turns out to be true that we get a true Windows/PC experience or nothing like that.
As a big Xbox fan I will still get it if it’s powerful and worth it, but I truly hope we get Steam and EGS. I’m also not sure, was Jez merely guessing when he talked about that or was he in the know about it?
You can’t tell me he’s not doing it on purpose at this point. Lord, someone just take his Twitter account away from him.
There are two possible outcomes IMO either MS will make online mp free on Helix or they will make the online paywall a hardware specific requirement regardless of store purchases.
About the prices of games and the higher prices of consoles games the question is will there be “console” Xbox specific versions of games at all? maybe we’ll just see something like Helix verified tag a la Deck with pre-made settings on Steam/Epic and Xbox PC versions straight from the MS store. This will be cheaper and easier for devs/publishers to have Helix “versions” without doing specific Xbox ports. Also the Xbox store will probably continue to have Game Pass as it’s main revenue drive/exclusive.
The concept of Helix is great but they have to nail the landing from day one and have the new system start with positive word of mouth from the start as much as they can both in software performance and ease of use.
Community note is easily the only good thing about X.
