'Project Helix' is the Next-Gen Xbox Hardware, will Play your Xbox and PC Games

[Sparda3g]

[Anecronomicon]

@Fiendflag

…nline 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 could both in software performance and ease of use.

And our Achievements need to be considered here as well. For long time fans it’s a bit of a gut punch to be encouraged into going PC.

[Kals_Els]

@Titan

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.

He likely makes money on twitter too.

[BadNews]

I think they have a pathway to have success with hardware. They need to make sure the os and ui provides a console-like experience

• curated system updates instead of windows random updates popping up
• Easy to navigate ui with controller
• Games from windows store just have to work with no tinkering. I think if Xbox store games can provide a great experience than people will choose it over switch
• Free online play. Xbox series player might have to pay but helix players won’t have to pay
• Asus already does it with ally but make it easy to select installed steam, epic game store, and other storefront games
• Marketing marketing and messaging will be key. I know there’s bad actors like Geoff but that is always going to be an obstacle when presenting Xbox plans imo. Need to overcome that

I know pricing is also key but I’ve accepted hardware is going to cost more . However, that is an advantage to Microsoft since that means PCs will also cost more to build . Microsoft has the opportunity to capture many markets because not all pc users are power users

[Kals_Els]

I think we already talked about the online and we have determined that Xbox on PC doesn’t require us to pay for online.

It’s been one of those things that some have expressed confusion on, but was always a no brainer.

There’s this old thread on Reddit about it

As PC players are already on Steams model of online.

Also we shouldn’t expect games to arrive at the same time as Steam, because Xbox still does check them all so it will take time to do so.

[euV2]

@Sparda3g

…image1179×1430 147 KB What is this year?

Geoff is embarrassing, he rightly got called out by Tom Warren and other and still doubled down in the comments.

I’m happy Xbox ghosted the TGAs, hopefully they ghost his future events too. He doesn’t deserve any of it, when this is how is acts.

[SheepDip]

@Sparda3g

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For real man. Valve can price the Steam Deck at $2000 if they want, the games media will run defense on any decision they make and provide all the free advertising they need.

[warbegun]

@Fiendflag

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.

If they want helix to be a viable option for a pc player to purchase they can’t paywall multiplayer. And I think they need those customers to make this thing work.

[Thereal_KG]

@Staffy

I know we are all expecting Steam and EGS to be on there, but have we had MS saying anything about this officially? Because the idea of that excites me the most and I really wouldn’t mind if MS made this official sooner rather than later.

I don’t mean it as Windows running Steam, obviously we’ll get that, but also actual Steam app/store while running console mode. So to speak.

I can see the Epic games store being fully integrated in there but yeah I don’t steam will be fully integrated into “console mode.”

I think if you want access to Steam they’ll allow you to install an app and it will just default into Steam big picture mode from there but the Xbox store will ultimately be front and center.

[Thereal_KG]

@warbegun

Ok, good to know. I’m going to throw this thought out there. Do they rebrand away from Xbox? I think the core customers would hate that but this new device is something pretty different from past consoles. And a rebrand could help with negative online discourse. Pretty extreme idea but you never know. The little logo animation even has a new sound effect.

Nah it’s a billion dollar consumer facing brand name they won’t throw that away.

The haters will always hate no matter what they do and it’s not just Xbox, negativity just sells nowadays in the algorithm.

But I feel you the Xbox hate seems so forced a lot of the times from people who don’t even care or like the platform which is the funniest.

[FacelessSamurai]

@Thereal_KG

I can see the Epic games store being fully integrated in there but yeah I don’t steam will be fully integrated into “console mode.”

I think if you want access to Steam they’ll allow you to install an app and it will just default into Steam big picture mode from there but the Xbox store will ultimately be front and center.

Wonder if they will allow it as long as it’s an app within the MS app store, and if some for of revenue sharing is negotiated.

Like, seeing Epic and MS getting closer with the Gamepass deal and saying more is on the horizon, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve negotiated something already. Steam I wouldn’t be so surprised.

All speculation from my part of course. But part of me thinks MS is rational to some extent and knows that the hardware cannot be fully unsubsidized and at a crazy price, so maybe we will get something in the middle where it’s some PC integration but not fully integrated with PC. I could see them throwing a bone a GOG considering how small of a drop in the bucket it is for them in the end.

In a way I think it could make sense, if you want full PC integration, just get an Xbox PC from another OEM. If you want more closed down with some PC features, you buy the MS Xbox Helix and pay less, you pay more than get a full PC with FSE and the possibility of going into Windows mode to unlock all of the features.

I could see some backlash to that though as some people would say they were promised full access and that MS was backtracking, even though since the beginning this was always all speculation and MS never said that ALL PC stores would be integrated, but the Internet being what it is, this wouldn’t surprise me.

[Thereal_KG]

@Titan

Don’t worry. They’re now either 100% sure it still won’t happen or 100% sure it will fail because “exclusives” (which is hilarious as the confirmation is that it will play all your Xbox and PC games…)

Dreamcast Guy has already got you covered

[Thereal_KG]

@FacelessSamurai

Wonder what they will call it.

I actually like the name Xbox Helix, that logo has potential, although I think a comeback to the OG or 360 era in terms of looks and marketing could help with their image, especially if the Xbox console is front and center.

Xbox Helix would be a great name because “this device is a fusion of the DNA between the best of Windows and Xbox”

[Staffy]

@Thereal_KG

I can see the Epic games store being fully integrated in there but yeah I don’t steam will be fully integrated into “console mode.”

I think if you want access to Steam they’ll allow you to install an app and it will just default into Steam big picture mode from there but the Xbox store will ultimately be front and center.

Yeah, I can see that happening too. Because at the end of the day Xbox will be competition to Valve. Or well, it’s very possible Valve does see it that way. I would be okay if it works as you described though. Would be nice if they spoke a little about it next week.

[Thereal_KG]

@Sparda3g

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Jon always keeping everyone in check you love to see it lol. But for real though this industry is really werid about Xbox.

It’s the same reason why everyone says they love the Steam Machine had universal excitement but now the Xbox being the more powerful and future proof version of that and completely open is an issue lol

[Searsy82]

[Thereal_KG]

@FacelessSamurai

… it’s some PC integration but not fully integrated with PC. I could see them throwing a bone a GOG considering how small of a drop in the bucket it is for them in the end. In a way I think it could make sense, if you want full PC integration, just get an Xbox PC from another OEM. If you want more closed down with some PC features, you buy the MS Xbox Helix and pay less, you pay more than get a full PC with FSE and the possibility of going into Windows mode to unlock all of the features. I could see some backlash to that though as some people would say they were promised full access and that MS was backtracking, even though since the beginning this was always all speculation and MS never said that ALL PC stores would be integrated, but the Internet being what it is, this wouldn’t surprise me.

I get what you’re saying but I think that recent cloud gaming interface update is what Xbox Helix will be move and operate like. The Xbox store will be the default store front and you’ll never have to leave the “console mode” if you don’t want to and you’ll be able to install gog, Epic, Steam etc. from the Microsoft store if you want to use those.

But I do a hundred percent think access to full windows will be there if people want that because that’s how they’ll get wide adoption. You’ll be able to do exactly what you want and even sail the high seas for Xbox games if you want but of course you’ll do so at your own risk and will probably void your warranty.

[Thereal_KG]

@Staffy

Yeah, I can see that happening too. Because at the end of the day Xbox will be competition to Valve. Or well, it’s very possible Valve does see it that way. I would be okay if it works as you described though. Would be nice if they spoke a little about it next week.

Yeah I don’t see a scenario where they’re automatically installed. If you want to install them though they’ll let you but they’re going to make you spend that money with Xbox first and foremost haha

[Staffy]

@Thereal_KG

Yeah I don’t see a scenario where they’re automatically installed. If you want to install them though they’ll let you but they’re going to make you spend that money with Xbox first and foremost haha

But that’s assuming we get a full fledged Windows mode where we can install anything we want. Right?

[Kals_Els]

@Staffy

But that’s assuming we get a full fledged Windows mode where we can install anything we want. Right?

Both Tom and Jez have reported that full Windows is the plan, with some talk about how the full screen experience on hand helds is a peek at what they’re trying to do.