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| Project Helix is the codename for Xbox's next-generation console, confirmed today by new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma ahead of GDC 2026. |
By Jon Scarr
Xbox's next-gen console now has a name. New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma took to social media today to confirm the codename: Project Helix. She was getting ready for her first Game Developers Conference next week when she shared the news.
Sharma was direct. The team discussed their commitment to the return of Xbox, confirmed Project Helix as the next-generation console codename, and said it will lead in performance. It will play both Xbox and PC games. The official Xbox account posted its own confirmation shortly after.
Great start to the morning with Team Xbox, where we talked about our commitment to the return of Xbox including Project Helix, the code name for our next generation console.
— Asha (@asha_shar) March 5, 2026
Project Helix will lead in performance and play your Xbox and PC games. Looking forward to chatting about… pic.twitter.com/Xx5rpVnAZI
Project Helix: A PC-Xbox Hybrid
Project Helix is built around AMD's hybrid PC-Xbox chip, codenamed Magnus. The idea is to bring console and PC gaming together in a single device. The console would run a version of Windows with an Xbox front-end experience. That means you'd have the option to boot into a full Windows desktop and access PC storefronts like Steam, Epic Games, and GOG alongside your Xbox library.
That makes Project Helix the most open Xbox hardware ever made. Your existing Xbox game library, decades of PC software compatibility, and access to every major PC store in one box. For anyone already invested in the Xbox ecosystem, that's a genuinely interesting proposition.
The Bigger Picture
This is Asha Sharma's first major public move since stepping into the CEO role following Phil Spencer's departure. Choosing GDC as the moment to surface Project Helix makes sense. It puts the hardware conversation back on the table at one of the industry's biggest annual gatherings, and it signals to developers that Microsoft is serious about next-gen.
There are still a lot of unknowns. Performance targets, pricing, and a release window have not been confirmed. What we do know is that Microsoft is calling this a return to Xbox, and Project Helix is how they plan to make that case.
We'll keep an eye on anything that comes out of GDC next week and update as more details emerge.
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