Project Helix price leaks as high as $1800 with 2028 release date

Fortune magazine recently toured Xbox offices and spoke to CEO Asha Sharma. The article produced several revelations, headlined by an updated Project Helix price and release date. Worse than some estimates, without Microsoft subsidizing the new Xbox console, it might cost as much as $1800. The hardware may also not launch until holidays 2028.

Handheld first?

Gamers could still see a system by late 2027, but Fortune believes a handheld will ship first. As part of the Project Helix family of devices, the rumored, more powerful console/PC hybrid may not appear for another year.

The article doesn’t explain why Microsoft would prioritize a handheld. Still, it has already tested the marketplace with third-party collaborations like the Asus ROG Xbox Ally. On the other hand, a first-party mobile offering could run on entirely different software.

According to Fortune, the company has been debating which OS the new Xbox consoles will use. The Windows team has pushed for a “trimmed-down version” of the existing Home version. Meanwhile, Sharma’s side has “sought to build and control its own software” to maximize gaming performance. The CEO seems to have won the battle.

Microsoft announced Project Helix in March 2026 and reportedly plans to ship alpha hardware to developers in 2027. The more optimistic release date window for the hybrid was fall 2027, possibly debuting alongside the PS6. Despite pushing up engineering deadlines and exploring how AI can speed up the process, it may not surface then.

Pricing concerns

When the Xbox console finally emerges, it threatens to be unaffordable if the storage and memory shortage persists. Fortune says internal estimates are currently between “$1,200 and $1,800, unless Microsoft decides to subsidize the cost.” Based on leaked specs, insiders like Moore's Law Is Dead expected an MSRP of at least $1,000.

Given the gaming business’s struggles, it’s unclear whether it would absorb losses on Helix. Shama previously mentioned several affordability strategies. These included using RAM and SSD more efficiently, as well as creative financing.

Adam Corsetti - Tech Writer - 1677 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2025

I became interested in technology at a young age and enjoyed discovering the latest innovations. While earning college degrees in publishing, I created several PC hardware and gaming websites. My passion has always been to guide readers on what products can truly improve their lives. After many years as a Tech Writer for Game Rant, I'm anxious to share my knowledge with a new audience at Notebookcheck.