All articles tagged with #project helix
Epic Games teased Unreal Engine 6 with Rocket League migrating to the new engine, signaling a next-gen toolset for the Xbox Project Helix era; a full UE6 reveal and additional UE6-powered titles are expected in the near future.
Digital Foundry argues the Switch 2’s modern hardware (SSD, ray tracing, ML/upsampling) and strong first‑party software help it stay relevant through the 2030s, narrowing the gap with next-gen rivals like PS6 and Project Helix and making a Switch 3 less urgent for now.
Microsoft has appointed two new Xbox executives—Matthew Ball as Chief Strategy Officer and Scott Van Vliet as Chief Technology Officer—along with a role shift for Chris Schnakenberg, as part of a leadership reshuffle aimed at strengthening the console business and accelerating development toward Project Helix. CEO Asha Sharma framed the moves as a way to clarify and improve execution to position Xbox for the future, signaling a renewed emphasis on the Series X|S console focus in 2026.
Digital Foundry labels Sony’s pivot away from porting large PS5 exclusives to PC as a defensive move against Microsoft’s Project Helix, a change that could influence Xbox strategy and the broader debate over exclusivity and cross‑platform releases.
Sony plans to stop releasing future single-player PlayStation titles on PC, with multiplayer PS games still arriving on PC. This marks a departure from a six-year trend of PC ports for Sony’s first-party games and could impact PC gamers and specialist port studios, even as Xbox pursues a hybrid console/PC strategy. The move is motivated by exclusivity and rising porting costs, though it raises questions about long-term revenue and brand value for Sony.
Images of the Xbox Elite 3 Controller leaked by a Brazilian regulator reveal two scroll wheels on either side of the headset connector, a button to switch between local and cloud play, and a removable battery pack—marking a shift from the prior non-removable battery, with Project Helix context in the mix.
Microsoft has removed the Xbox Live multiplayer paywall, making online multiplayer free and revamping Game Pass with a Free Tier that includes ads plus multiple paid options (Starter, Premium, Ultimate, PC Game Pass). The company is also exploring an a la carte subscription model and rumored Netflix bundle, while Project Helix aims to unify console and PC gaming across devices.
Rumors suggest Xbox's Project Helix could be a fully digital system, with Windows Central's Jez Corden hinting at a disc-to-digital entitlement concept codenamed 'Positron'—though details are scarce and unconfirmed. A disc drive might still exist as an external add-on or via a digital trade-in path for physical libraries, but the move toward digital is seen as likely, with PS6 cited as a potential parallel. The absence of a built-in drive raises questions about backwards compatibility and preservation for physical collectors.
Xbox outlines a strategic wave: Project Helix, a next-gen hardware platform priced at $800–$1,200 due within two years; Halo remakes of Halo 2 and Halo 3 confirmed, plus Halo Next continuing the series post-Halo Infinite; leadership changes under Asher Sharma include discontinuing the Xbox Copilot AI to reallocate resources toward hardware and game development; refreshed branding and UI updates for Series S/X; an Xbox showcase in 30 days will reveal more details.
Microsoft will host a developer-focused Xbox Game Dev Update stream for Project Helix (a PC/console hybrid) on the Xbox Game Dev YouTube channel at 5pm BST/12pm ET, outlining updates to developer tools, DirectStorage/DirectX, and the Xbox Marketplace. Positioned as a recap of GDC with thoughtful questions about openness, hardware parity, and third‑party software, the stream is not expected to offer major new reveals, with more information to come later this year.
Xbox released the full GDC Helix presentation as a recap for 2026, with Jason Ronald stressing that the Xbox console is central to its future and promising more Helix news later this year, potentially at upcoming events like a June showcase or other announcements.
Microsoft’s new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma unveiled a four-point reboot—hardware, games, platform, and services—focusing on core fixes for console and PC, biweekly updates, and a renewed Xbox branding while reevaluating exclusivity and advancing Project Helix; leadership reshuffles bring in CoreAI veterans, Copilot for Xbox is scrapped, and Microsoft hints at more OEM hardware options as Windows updates roll out (Run menu, MSN widgets removal, Xbox mode).
Digital Foundry argues that Microsoft’s Project Helix sits between console and PC, reflecting a broader shift where hardware is similar but software freedom vs platform curation defines the split. Helix could blend PC openness with console-style storefronts, with the final verdict likely depending on official details revealed in a live stream.
Microsoft will host its first Xbox Game Dev Update to reveal Project Helix, a next-gen Xbox/PC console powered by a custom AMD-based SoC and DirectX-focused tech. The developer-focused stream on YouTube (12pm ET/5pm BST) will tee up what Helix means for developers and future Xbox/PC games; dev units aren’t expected until 2027, with leadership from Chris Charla and Jason Ronald guiding the session.
New Xbox head Asha Sharma says the company must move faster and deepen its community ties, announcing Copilot will be wound down on mobile and its console work halted, with other non-aligned features potentially retired; leadership reshuffles continue as Xbox shifts toward the next-gen Project Helix hardware while redirecting AI efforts, a backdrop that also includes broader brand changes and external boycott discussions.