‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced

Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

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Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

I guess 'Project Hail Mary' was already taken.

Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

We got the XSX and PS5 both during the pandemic and the PS5 gets way more use than the XSX.

The XBox side of things for us has always been, well, it's been a side-thing. We got the One S years ago on a lark, but found some stuff to entertain us plus it played 4K discs so we kept it for a while, even had the subscription service. But we've always been a Nintendo/PlayStation family since the days of the NES and later the PSX. So we kinda got the XSX since we had so much money and were locked down at the time, so we bought it. It's got some good stuff on it, but we really have some good stuff on Steam now that we play on an HTPC.

So I'm not optimistic about us going for this. Especially since I've now been out of work for a year now.

Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

If it's an alternative to a Steam Box and cheaper, it might do okay?

Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

I got both XSX and PS5 at launch and they just never gave a compelling reason to own both of them. Now that they basically cut down exclusives AND the cost of Gamepass has gone up (or they've closed the loopholes) I just can't see getting this at launch for whatever exorbitant price it'll be.

Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

Yeah this will probably be my first pass on an Xbox. It's always been my secondary console anyway since I'm a Sony guy but the X/S era has been a flop for me.

Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

Yeah, that’s where I am. Skeptical about the “cheaper” part, alas, but if it has strong backwards compatibility, a way for me to play my games that are on disc (even if everything is digital-only going forward), and opens the door to other storefronts like Steam, I would be sorely tempted.

Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

Nothing will ever beat the OG XBox/XBox 360 era. I know we had to deal with RRoD issues but I put so many hours in on the 360. It was definitely that time of life for me where I had the most free time but I think it's more than that. It had a killer lineup (Halo 3, COD 4 MW?) and the fact that XBox Live wasn't that much per year meant that multiplayer was alive and kicking.

Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

I am scared to see what they actually call this one or how they will drop the ball, and I am a huge Xbox fan.

"Presenting the Xbox Next Series 360 Retro Throwback X 180 with Peggle 2.5!!!"

Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

I am the exact opposite. Unless it's a PS5 exclusive, my PS5 has been gathering dust. The only reason I don't sell it is because I might want to play a game I haven't played yet like Drake's Fortune or Spider-Man 2.

Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

Wait, wasn’t Helix that zombies in the arctic show? Something called “Project Helix” has me concerned.

Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

Mostly the same for me, with very few exceptions. I was looking forward to playing their new single player games on PC instead of console (even if they continued with the 6-18 month delay), but I’ll keep the PS5 around for exclusives that I care about that don’t make it to PC.
My exceptions are the physical games I bought for my wife and kid, since they play on there. The Life is Strange compilation that came out last year comes to mind.

Since this is the “next Xbox” thread, I’ll add that some have speculated based on leaked data that the system may have the rough equivalent performance as a PC with an Nvidia 5080 GPU. If so, the price will be too high for what most consider reasonable for a “console” but right in line with a well-made pre-built PC, with the bonus of playing legacy Xbox games. I could get behind that.

Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

Honest question, if you're going to get a PS for exclusives anyway, what's the prompt to get an Xbox too? Because they're coming out first?

Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

I would buy it for Peggle 2.5. :lol: :(

I hate to admit how many hours I lost to all the versions on the Xbox and my phone. So addictive!

Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

Microsoft discusses the new Xbox:

Microsoft's GDC 2026 Keynote — Everything Announced on the Future of Xbox and Project Helix

Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

I prefer the Xbox interface and the controller.

Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

This "console" is giving me pause to get the Steam Box. I was almost a shoe-in to get the SB but with all the secrecy around release and price point, I might just wait another year for the Helix. Like Nick, I MUCH prefer the Xbox controller so I'm getting this thing regardless.

Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

I much preferred the XBox style controller since the S model with the OG XBox and then the 360 version, especially over the PS3 controller. But the PS5 controller and the Switch Pro controller have improved so much and have totally negated that advantage. Plus third party controllers like 8bit Do have gotten a lot better that it's not even a consideration anymore.

So again I'm really pressed to find any kind of reason to buy in to XBox hardware anymore. I'd wager I'm not the only one.

Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

I understand loving the 360 controller, but people liking the Xbox One controller always blew my mind.

Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

Running it nearly exactly back again for the current gen is what blew my mind.

Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

I think it’s a matter of preference for what feature set you want and/or expect from the new hardware. Assuming the next Xbox would just be yet another console with the knowledge that exclusive games would be even less common, I would not see many people wanting to buy one.

However, in case MS hasn’t been clear enough yet, the “Helix” is, for all intents and purposes, a pre-built PC, presumably in a console-like form factor. So then, the console decision is easy: if you want a Console, you buy a PS6 and/or a Switch 2.

But if you want a PC, there are many routes to go down. One is self-built, and the “hardcore” gamers will always go self-built.
But honestly, most folks don’t want or need that hassle, especially if all they’re playing is Fortnite or one of the other mega-popular forever games. So then the question is, which pre-built do they buy? There are dozens, maybe hundreds, to choose from, but they all (currently) effectively behave the same in that you get Windows 11 and you get to play any PC game your system can handle. The outliers will be:
Steam Machine - runs the Steam OS instead of Windows 11, and only plays Steam-purchased/redeemed games (as far as I know) but is delivered in their fantastic user-friendly “big screen” interface.
Xbox Helix - runs Windows 11 with a backwards compatibility layer (for Xbox games), will play games from any PC library (Steam, EGS, Xbox PC, etc.) but is delivered in their own user-friendly “Xbox mode” interface that combines all of the games from all of these stores into one unified experience.

Adding complexity to this is that ALL Windows 11 PCs will get the option to have the “Xbox mode” interface (long overdue IMO), but they will presumably NOT have the backwards compatibility of Xbox/360/One/Series games, yet they WILL have the capability to play Xbox PC games. Confusing enough?? :lol: Put it this way: if a game was released in the Xbox PC store (or any other PC store), then any PC will play it. If your copy of a game is a legacy Xbox/360/One/Series non-PlayAnywhere purchase, then Helix may be the only PC that will play it.

So, in the pre-built PC market, I can see Helix being a pretty compelling purchase IF they get it all right, and that’s a huge IF considering past mistakes. I think it’s also targeted to people who already have large Xbox libraries (hi!), but not ONLY to those people. I know Steam is the King Shit of Fuck Mountain on PC, but if you’re looking forward, I don’t think most NEW gamers have a particular loyalty to Steam. I set up a new PC for an teen and he didn’t even install it; he just installed Epic for his favourite forever game. Maybe Steam got installed later.

So putting it all another way:
If you want a pre-built PC to plug into your TV, focused 99% on gaming, and you want a nice interface that will install and launch all the games you own, regardless of which PC store got your purchase, a Helix may be for you. Xbox BC is a bonus for those who have those libraries.
And if Helix maintains the “quick resume” feature of the Series X/S consoles, that would be fantastic. Picking up a game exactly where you left off in 2 seconds seems arbitrary until you experience it :lol:

That said, I’m skeptical they can pull it off or release it at a good price point. It absolutely will be more expensive than a PS6, but the point is they’re not competing at that game anymore. They need to convince people that the features/specs over a Steam Machine are worth it, while keeping it roughly in line or cheaper than a similarly-spec’d pre-built PC.
In the pre-built PC space, they could end up being the best option for someone who just wants to play games.

I’ll also add: there’s zero chance of this, but the MOST compelling option would be to be able to swap out GPU in ~5 years as a DIY “Pro” upgrade. With the way PCs are, I feel like as long as the Helix has a solid CPU and RAM in there, those components can last over a decade, but the GPU upgrade would give it new life for the latest and greatest games.

Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

We use Xbox controllers currently for playing on our big TV (Steam) because they are very nearly the perfect shape and configuration. We have about a half dozen or more in the household between the two different Xbox consoles and the PC gaming we do. My wife even syncs it to her laptop to play Balatro on it.

But we were also talking about letting go of one (maybe both) of our Xbox consoles to trim down our collection. I'll probably argue against it because I still regret letting go of many of our old consoles (particularly the Dreamcast).

Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

Xbox confirms that the upcoming Project Helix will be a first party console:

Xbox Quashes Rumor About the Next-Gen Project Helix Console

Re: ‘Next generation of Xbox console’ Project Helix announced
 

Cool, now quash rumors that it'll be more expensive than a week-long Disneyland vacation.