Microsoft will begin delivering alpha versions of its next-generation console, Project Helix, to game development studios in 2027. The new console will feature a custom AMD chip and have the capability to play both Xbox console games and PC games. Project Helix is expected to have an order of magnitude increase in ray tracing performance.

Microsoft's next-generation console, codenamed Project Helix, will start shipping alpha versions to developers in 2027, according to Jason Ronald, Xbox's vice-president of next generation [doc13]. This development was announced during the Game Developers Conference 2026, where Microsoft presented early details about the new console.

Project Helix will feature a custom AMD-made system-on-a-chip  and be capable of playing both Xbox and PC games [doc13]. Ronald also mentioned that the console will have an order of magnitude increase in ray tracing performance [doc7]. This is a notable upgrade, considering the current performance of earlier Xbox consoles.

While Microsoft has not detailed Project Helix's specifications or price tag, the information provided during the GDC showcase hints at a hybrid PC-Xbox experience that could potentially disrupt the gaming market. With the next-gen console's capabilities and backward compatibility, gamers can expect a vast library of games to be available for the new system upon its release.

Microsoft Confirms Next-Gen Xbox Project Helix to Ship Alpha Versions to Developers in 2027