Xbox's Project Helix reportedly targets 2028 holiday launch at $1,200 to $1,800

Fortune reports that Xbox's next-generation console, Project Helix, is planned for the 2028 holiday season. The projected price is between $1,200 and $1,800. Fortune spoke with Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and with other sources familiar with Xbox and Microsoft. The launch window and price come from those sources, so treat both as reported, not announced.

Those sources also say Helix deadlines have been moved up "by at least several months." They say this puts pressure on development teams to deliver faster, including by using AI. Sharma told Fortune that Xbox won't use "AI for AI's sake." She said AI would be a tool for engineering and performance issues. She has previously said Xbox is prioritising efficiency and affordability alongside performance for its next console.

Fortune further reports that Xbox plans to launch a next-gen handheld device by late next year. The report also describes a planned Game Pass overhaul. It may let players choose add-ons for console-only games, cloud gaming and multiplayer, within a tiered structure. This is also reported, not announced.

On Game Pass performance, the report says subscriber numbers as of July 2026 were less than 50% of the original target. Sharma has previously said the company bet on Game Pass and on a multi-platform, broader content portfolio, and that those businesses did not grow as expected. Xbox chief content officer Matt Booty told Fortune the company had not connected the dots between its bets as well as it should have.

For developers and publishers, the practical takeaway is to wait for official confirmation before planning around a 2028 target or a Game Pass tier change. Nothing in the source says Microsoft has announced pricing, a date, or specs for Helix or the handheld.