Microsoft Projects $1,200 to $1,800 Price For 2028 Holiday Console
· Technology · Ars Technica, Gadgets360
Fortune reports that Microsoft has internally projected a new holiday season console release for Project Helix in 2028 with a price range between $1,200 and $1,800, based on internal estimates. The final consumer price could be lower if Microsoft decides to subsidize the cost, a strategy other console makers have used in the past. The profile of Xbox CEO Asha Sharma also indicates a dual release strategy, with a next-generation handheld device planned by the end of next year. Internal clashes reportedly surfaced over whether the upcoming Helix handheld would run a trimmed-down version of Windows Home or a bespoke operating system controlled by the Xbox group. Microsoft has pressured the hardware team to move up Project Helix timelines by several months, in part by deploying AI tools across development.
Why it matters
Gamers and consumers face a historically high baseline price for next-generation hardware, though subsidies could reduce the out-of-pocket cost, while the dual handheld and console strategy signals Microsoft's broader push to expand its Xbox ecosystem across device categories.
Read the original report — Ars Technica
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