Xbox’s New CEO Unveils Next-Gen Console's Codename ‘Project Helix,’ Says It "Will Lead in Performance"

Next-gen Xbox console just got its first official codename. Yesterday, the newly appointed Xbox CEO Asha Sharma revealed that Microsoft’s upcoming console is currently being developed under the codename Project Helix. In a post on X from yesterday, Sharma said that in a meeting with Team Xbox, she had discussion focused on the company’s renewed push toward what she called the “return of Xbox.”

The update from Sharma comes two weeks after Phil Spencer retired as Microsoft Gaming CEO, alongside Xbox president Sarah Bond, who also stepped down from her role. Sharma, who previously served as president of Microsoft’s CoreAI division, now leads the Xbox. Long-time Xbox executive Matt Booty has also been promoted to Chief Content Officer.

With AI taking over almost every industry, fans wary of heavy AI involvement in future Xbox titles due to Sharma’s background. However, in an internal email published after Sharma assumed the role, she has reassured teams that games will remain human-driven creative works, stating that games are and always will be art crafted by people.

Next-gen Xbox console will focus on top performance, Xbox and PC games

According to Sharma, Project Helix will focus heavily on performance while maintaining compatibility across Microsoft’s broader gaming ecosystem. She noted that the system will let you play both Xbox and PC games. This is a clear hint that Microsoft’s long-standing push toward a unified platform is intact. That being said, Sharma’s post didn’t reveal hardware details, pricing expectations, or a release timeline of the next-gen Xbox console.

However, Sharma confirmed that she will attend the upcoming Game Developers Conference (GDC) next week, where she plans to speak with developers and partners about the future of Xbox, including Project Helix. Comsoles remain a focus for Microsoft and Asha Sharma has hinted that the company won’t slowdown on making them despite ongoing push for cloud gaming.

If you are looking for more details about Project Helix, don’t forget to watch the GDC livestream next week, where Asha Sharma will be addressing developers around the world.