Microsoft reportedly projects $1,200 to $1,800 price for 2028 Project Helix
According to a Fortune profile of Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, Microsoft is planning a dual release strategy: a next-generation handheld by end of 2025 and a full console in the 2028 holiday season. Internal projections show the console could cost $1,200–$1,800, though Microsoft may subsidize the price as console makers have historically done. The elevated cost reflects industry-wide challenges: declining Moore's Law progress and component shortages driven by AI demand. Recent gaming hardware launches illustrate the trend, with Steam Machine surpassing $1,000, PlayStation 5 Pro at $900, and Xbox Series X starting at $750.
Key points
- Microsoft planning handheld by end of 2025 and console for 2028 holiday season
- Internal projections estimate $1,200–$1,800 console price, potentially reducible via subsidy
- High cost driven by Moore's Law slowdown and AI-related component shortages
- Recent gaming hardware reflects upward pricing trend across the industry
Summary and key points written by AI from the headline and a short excerpt, so they can be incomplete or wrong. Ars Technica did the reporting; read the original for the full story.
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