Xbox CEO Asha Sharma recently seemed to publicly refer to the next-generation console lineup, codenamed "Project Helix," as a "device family" for the first time.
In an interview with BBC News, the head of the console manufacturer discussed the company's development plans for next-generation console products. The project has currently only revealed its internal codename, "Project Helix."
Sharma stated, "We have been fully committed to developing next-generation products and building out the complete device family for Project Helix." This remark seems to indirectly confirm that when the next-generation consoles officially launch, there won't be just a single Xbox model available.
In the current generation of consoles, Microsoft has launched the more powerful and higher-priced Xbox Series X, as well as the lower-priced, slightly less powerful Xbox Series S, which can play all games from the same generation. While the official details of the Helix project's "device family" have not yet been disclosed, it is easy to foresee that Microsoft will likely continue its dual-console strategy and may even further expand into the handheld gaming market.
She added, "We will certainly continue to push the performance envelope. As we've mentioned before, future consoles will not only run native console games but also support PC games. Beyond that, I believe the entire industry needs to innovate in terms of affordability and energy efficiency. This wasn't a key consideration in the past, but with the current crisis in the hardware and components sector, it is definitely an area that requires deep thought and breakthroughs across the industry. We need to give players more diverse choices, whether in how they play on consoles or how they purchase them."
Currently, public information about Project Helix is very limited. It is only confirmed that it is increasingly resembling a PC hybrid architecture device, compatible with both PC and Xbox console games—and the bare-bones price of the complete system is likely to be very high.
During the interview, Sharma also mentioned that the diverse purchasing models for smartphones might offer solutions to the pricing challenges facing next-generation consoles. She explained that differentiated business models can reach a broader user base.
When asked whether The Elder Scrolls VI would be an Xbox console exclusive, Sharma simply responded, "Every platform needs some form of exclusive experience."