Xbox CEO Asha Sharma details Project Helix as a full family of next-gen devices

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has shared more details about Project Helix, Microsoft's next-generation hardware push — and it's shaping up to be a lineup of devices rather than a single console. The details come from a leaked internal memo obtained by Windows Central, with reporter Jez Corden breaking the story.

In the memo, Sharma stated directly: "We are moving to a family of devices for Gen-10. There is not one device that fits all. We will certainly have a great console first, but we also know that many players will be on the go. There are some things that we are the best in the world to manufacture, and there are other things that we will partner on." She also noted the operating system is coming along well, saying the team is "very excited" about its progress. The memo separately referenced Xbox PC and Battle.net, with Sharma noting Blizzard's launcher is "almost on-par with Steam for user retention" — a signal that Microsoft may lean harder on that storefront for future game launches.

None of this comes out of nowhere. Microsoft already launched the current generation with two distinct boxes — the Xbox Series X and the cheaper, less powerful Series S — and last year partnered with Asus to release the ROG Xbox Ally X, one of the stronger handheld gaming PCs on the market. The multi-device approach mirrors how Microsoft has operated in the PC space for decades, partnering with hardware manufacturers rather than building everything in-house. A core console — almost certainly the Xbox Series X successor, built around an AMD partnership — seems confirmed, but the language around partners and portability strongly implies Xbox-branded handhelds and potentially laptops or desktop PCs are also in the pipeline.

The operating system comment is worth watching closely. Windows 11 remains a persistent weak point on handheld gaming PCs, and while the Xbox Full Screen Experience has improved, it still falls short of the seamless console UI experience. Whether Microsoft can close that gap before Gen-10 launches will go a long way toward determining how competitive its broader device family actually is. More specifics are expected as plans develop, per Sharma's own note.