Project Helix To Ship As First-Party Console, Exclusives Potentially Coming Back To The Platform

Big changes are already showing up for Xbox with the small time that Microsoft has shifted its course for the Xbox platform. With the introduction of Asha Sharma to be the new head of Microsoft’s console business, there have been new promises which have been delivered upon. One many were excited to see is the ending of its ‘This Is An Xbox’ campaign earlier in 2026. Another is that backwards compatibility will be a focus later on this year too.

Most recently, it was officially announced that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate & PC Game Pass are receiving price cuts. Following the increase that took place in November last year, the decision has been reverted to an affordable $22.99 & $13.99 per month respectively. Not to mention Project Helix is on the table now too with the next-generation console now on the horizon as well.

One of the major focuses for Project Helix is understood to be the abridged approach for both console & PC. At GDC, it was presented that PC would be the focus development platform for titles which Xbox would be able to translate for its console. The discussion has then pointed towards the OEM being open as well to other manufacturers in a similar fashion. But on X, Jason Ronald has disclosed that the console will be a first-party release opposing recent reports.

Noted, the wording from Ronald does confirm that the console itself will be provided from Microsoft through its internal teams to consumers. But, it does still draw the question whether Xbox’s Helix chip will be issued to other manufacturers like ASUS or MSI for third-party systems. On the topic of exclusivity, there has been chatter of Xbox titles reverting the decision to ship on other platforms.

In the recent XB2 405 episode, Windows Central Jez Corden has said that Microsoft is discussing bringing exclusives back to Xbox. “There are very very very big discussions about the exclusivity stuff going on right now [internally],” he stated. “I think they do recognize the value, you know. It’s just about what kind of company you want to be at the end of the day.”

Are you interested in what Microsoft has planned for the future of Xbox?