Recent media reports suggest that Microsoft's next-generation Xbox console, codenamed "Project Helix," will have an internal consumer price target of $1,200 to $1,800, with a tentative launch scheduled for 2028. This estimate is still subject to change, and a key variable is whether Microsoft is willing to absorb part of the manufacturing costs to subsidize the retail price.
The reports attribute the price pressure mainly to rising memory and storage costs: the expansion of AI system construction has increased demand for related components, driving up prices for RAM and NAND storage, which is also expected to add to the burden of console hardware design costs.
The reports also claim that Xbox Game Pass may shift to a modular subscription model, allowing users to choose combinations of features such as cloud gaming, online multiplayer, and the console game library. Additionally, there are reportedly disagreements between the Xbox and Windows teams regarding the direction of handheld operating systems. However, none of these details—hardware pricing, release window, subscription changes, or internal discussions—have been officially confirmed by Microsoft, and the final plans may still change.