Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox could reach stores during the 2028 holiday season, according to a report. The console, codenamed Project Helix, has not yet been officially announced with a confirmed price or launch date.
Fortune reports that Microsoft is internally projecting a consumer price of USD 1,200 to USD 1,800 for the device. The projection puts the next Xbox far above the Xbox Series X, which launched at USD 500 in 2020. Even the lowest price range would more than double the original price. However, the company did not confirm these figures publicly.
The report links the projected cost to rising prices for memory and storage. AI data centres are consuming large volumes of DRAM and NAND components, tightening supply for consumer hardware makers.
Those pressures could make a high-end console expensive to build. Microsoft may need to subsidise the device to keep it closer to USD 1,000, the report suggests.
Such a move would not be unusual for console makers. Companies often sell hardware at a lower margin to expand their user base and earn revenue through games, subscriptions and accessories. Microsoft may release a next-generation Xbox handheld before the main console. The report says the company is targeting the 2027 holiday season for that device.
The handheld would reportedly arrive about a year before Project Helix. Microsoft has not officially detailed the specifications or launch plans for either product. Microsoft acknowledged Project Helix as a first-party Xbox console. It will use a custom AMD chip and support both Xbox console and PC games.
Looking ahead, the company is yet to announce a consumer release date, retail price, or final hardware design. The 2028 window and 1,200–1,800 price range therefore remain reports, not confirmed plans.
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