Microsoft’s next-generation gaming hardware, previously announced under the codename Project Helix, will not be a single device. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma told BBC News that the company has been working on a “family of devices” for Helix, and that more details would be shared soon. She made the statement when asked whether the console would be disc-less, a question she did not directly answer. This clarification adjusts earlier expectations, as Sharma’s initial March announcement described Helix as Microsoft’s “next generation console,” which many took to mean a single piece of hardware.

The family-of-devices approach aligns with a broader strategy Microsoft has already signaled. In 2025, Microsoft and AMD announced a multi-year partnership focused on a “portfolio of devices,” including the next-generation console. That collaboration suggests AMD is likely involved in the Helix family in some capacity. Additionally, rumors have circulated that third-party manufacturers could sell their own Project Helix devices. When asked about those rumors, Xbox’s vice president of next generation, Jason Ronald, did not deny them, instead stating that Project Helix would be available as a first-party Xbox console.

This week, Microsoft also introduced a program for digitizing physical games, a move that could relate to the hardware’s design. While Sharma did not confirm whether Helix would include a disc drive, the new digitization program may offer a path for users to convert their existing game collections. For US consumers, who have seen a steady shift toward digital downloads over physical media, this development could influence how they view the upcoming hardware lineup.

Project Helix is expected to support PC games, a feature that sets it apart from traditional Xbox consoles. However, no launch date has been confirmed. In February, AMD hinted that it would be ready to support a 2027 launch of Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox. That timing was echoed in March, when Ronald said that Helix would not reach alpha stage until 2027. Those statements suggest the hardware family is still in early development, with a release likely more than a year away.

The announcement arrives as Microsoft undergoes leadership changes. Sharma took over as Xbox CEO shortly before AMD’s February remarks, replacing the previous leadership in a surprise move. The combination of a new executive, a device family strategy, and the AMD partnership indicates that Microsoft is positioning its next console generation as a broader ecosystem rather than a single product. For now, the company is keeping specific hardware details under wraps, leaving gamers and industry watchers to speculate on what the Helix family will include.

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