Xbox Project Helix (Next Xbox)

Project Helix is Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox. Microsoft has confirmed the codename, a custom AMD chip, and that alpha hardware goes to game developers in 2027, and it describes Helix as “a family of devices” rather than a single box. It has not announced a price, a final name or a release date. This page tracks what is confirmed and what is reported, and answers the most common question first: what is the newest Xbox you can buy right now?

What is the newest Xbox?

The newest Xbox console you can buy today is still the Xbox Series X, alongside the cheaper Xbox Series S. Both launched in November 2020. Microsoft has refreshed the line with new models rather than a new generation:

Model	Released	US price (Oct 2026)
Xbox Series X (1TB, disc)	Nov 2020	$799.99
Xbox Series X Digital Edition	Oct 2024	$749.99
Xbox Series S (1TB)	Sep 2023	$599.99
Xbox Series S (512GB)	Nov 2020	$499.99
Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition	Nov 13, 2026	$899.99

So whats the newest Xbox console in late 2026? Technically the Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition, a translucent green anniversary model, but it is the same Series X hardware inside. The newest Xbox-branded device is the ROG Xbox Ally X20 handheld, released October 15, 2026. What is the latest Xbox generation? Still Series X|S. The next one is Project Helix.

When is the new Xbox coming out?

When is the next Xbox coming out? Microsoft has not given a date. What it has confirmed is that alpha development hardware reaches studios in 2027. On October 20, 2026, Fortune reported that the Helix console is targeting holiday 2028, and that a handheld member of the Helix family could arrive by holiday 2027. Microsoft has not confirmed those dates.

So when will the new Xbox come out? If the reports are right, late 2028 for the main console. When does the new Xbox come out compared with the PS6? Sony has not announced its next console either, but reports point to 2027-2028, so the two may launch close together. Is there a new Xbox coming out in 2026? Not a new generation; the only new Xbox hardware this year is the X25 edition and the Ally X20 handheld.

How much will the new Xbox cost?

How much is the new Xbox? There is no official price. The Fortune report said Microsoft is considering $1,200 to $1,800, which would make Helix a premium device closer to a gaming PC than a traditional console. For context, the Series X has gone from $499.99 at launch to $799.99 after price rises in 2025 and August 2026, so a cheap next-gen Xbox is unlikely. Expect Microsoft to offer more than one model, as it did with the Series X and Series S, given that it calls Helix a family of devices.

What is the new Xbox called?

Project Helix is an internal codename. Microsoft has not announced the retail name. Past codenames such as Scarlett (Series X|S), Scorpio (Xbox One X) and Durango (Xbox One) were all replaced at launch, so expect a different final name.

What we know about Project Helix hardware

• Custom AMD silicon: confirmed. Microsoft extended its multi-year partnership with AMD to cover the next generation of Xbox consoles and devices.
• A family of devices: confirmed wording. Reports say this includes a home console and a handheld.
• Backward compatibility: Microsoft has repeatedly said your Xbox library will move forward with you, continuing the compatibility that already covers Xbox One, Xbox 360 and original Xbox games.
• PC store access: reports say Helix will open up PC storefronts, building on the Xbox full screen experience introduced on the ROG Xbox Ally, which runs Windows with an Xbox interface.
• AI features: expected AI upscaling and frame generation similar to what AMD and Microsoft are adding on PC.

Who is building it?

Jason Ronald, Vice President of Next Generation at Xbox, leads the hardware program. Asha Sharma became CEO of Microsoft Gaming on February 23, 2026, after Phil Spencer retired, and she has said Xbox will keep making hardware. Read more in who runs Xbox and PlayStation and is Xbox shutting down?

Next gen Xbox console vs Xbox Series X

Every Xbox Series X|S game is expected to run on Helix, so buying a Series X now does not lock you out of your library later. If you do not own a current Xbox, the Series S is the cheapest way into Game Pass and the Series X is the best way to play today. If you already own a Series X, there is little reason to upgrade until Helix arrives. Compare the two in Xbox Series X vs Series S and check prices on the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S hubs.

Should you wait for the next Xbox?

Wait if you are happy with what you own and want the best possible hardware in 2028. Buy now if you want to play the current Game Pass library, Forza Horizon 6, Fable or Call of Duty today: a console bought in 2026 still gives you at least two years of play before Helix even launches, and your games and Game Pass membership should carry over. Our Xbox Game Pass guide explains which tier to pick.

Project Helix timeline

Date	Event
2024	Microsoft says next-generation hardware is in development
2025	Microsoft and AMD announce a multi-year partnership for future Xbox hardware
Feb 23, 2026	Asha Sharma becomes CEO of Microsoft Gaming
2026	Project Helix name confirmed; alpha hardware for developers in 2027
Oct 20, 2026	Fortune reports holiday 2028 launch and $1,200-$1,800 price

Will Project Helix play my current games?

Microsoft has made backward compatibility a core promise since 2015. Today an Xbox Series X|S runs almost every Xbox One game, more than 600 Xbox 360 games and a selection of original Xbox games, and your purchases follow your Microsoft account rather than the console. Microsoft leaders have said this commitment continues into the next generation, so your digital library, Game Pass membership, achievements and cloud saves are expected to move to Helix. Physical discs depend on whether Helix has a disc drive, which Microsoft has not said; the Series X Digital Edition shows the company is already comfortable with drive-less consoles.

Project Helix and PC gaming

The biggest change reported for Helix is how close it may be to a Windows PC. The ROG Xbox Ally handhelds already run Windows 11 with the Xbox full screen experience, an Xbox-style interface that boots straight into your games and lets you launch Steam, Battle.net and other PC stores. Reports say Helix could bring similar access to PC storefronts on the living room console, which would explain a higher price and the “family of devices” wording. Microsoft has not confirmed which stores will be supported.

Next Xbox handheld

Fortune’s report said a Helix handheld could come by holiday 2027. Microsoft already partners with ASUS on the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, and the newer ROG Xbox Ally X20 with a 7.4-inch OLED screen launched on October 15, 2026 for $1,299.99. Whether a first-party Microsoft handheld appears or Helix-branded partner devices continue that line is not yet clear. Earlier rumors of an “Xbox handheld cancelled” referred to a first-party portable that Microsoft paused in 2025 in favor of the ASUS partnership.

We update this page whenever Microsoft confirms a detail about Project Helix, so check back after each Xbox showcase, especially the June Xbox Games Showcase and the January Developer Direct, where Microsoft traditionally makes its biggest hardware announcements.

Have a question we have not answered here? Most of the common ones about Project Helix, the newest Xbox and next-generation prices are collected in the FAQ tab for this page.