Microsoft reportedly projects $1,200 to $1,800 price for 2028 Project Helix
Fortune reports that Microsoft has internally projected a price range of $1,200 to $1,800 for a console slated for the 2028 holiday season. The publication details this in a profile of Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, noting that the figures represent internal projections rather than confirmed retail prices. Microsoft announced Project Helix in March as a device designed to play both Xbox and PC games. According to Fortune, the company is pursuing a dual release strategy that includes a next-generation handheld device planned for release by the end of next year, alongside the 2028 console. The reported price range is historically high for the game console market, even when adjusted for inflation. Fortune attributes this cost increase to the slowdown in Moore's Law and AI-driven component shortages, which have made advanced gaming hardware less affordable. The outlet notes that consumer prices could decrease if Microsoft decides to subsidize the cost, a practice common among console manufacturers. Current market prices illustrate this upward trend in hardware costs. The Steam Machine recently broke the $1,000 starting price threshold this year. Additionally, the PlayStation 5 Pro, which utilizes two-year-old technology, is currently priced at $900. The Xbox Series X, a six-year-old model, now starts at $750.
Fortune reports that Microsoft has internally projected a price range of $1,200 to $1,800 for a console slated for the 2028 holiday season. The publication details this in a profile of Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, noting that the figures represent internal projections rather than confirmed retail prices. Microsoft announced Project Helix in March as a device designed to play both Xbox and PC games. According to Fortune, the company is pursuing a dual release strategy that includes a next-generation handheld device planned for release by the end of next year, alongside the 2028 console. The reported price range is historically high for the game console market, even when adjusted for inflation. Fortune attributes this cost increase to the slowdown in Moore's Law and AI-driven component shortages, which have made advanced gaming hardware less affordable. The outlet notes that consumer prices could decrease if Microsoft decides to subsidize the cost, a practice common among console manufacturers. Current market prices illustrate this upward trend in hardware costs. The Steam Machine recently broke the $1,000 starting price threshold this year. Additionally, the PlayStation 5 Pro, which utilizes two-year-old technology, is currently priced at $900. The Xbox Series X, a six-year-old model, now starts at $750.