Xbox chief executive Asha Sharma told the BBC that the company is considering affordability for its next‑generation console as hardware costs rise, driven in part by increased spending on artificial intelligence. She said Microsoft is looking at ways to make gaming more affordable while maintaining performance.

Sharma noted that rising prices for components such as memory have been linked to AI data‑center demand, prompting the industry to innovate on cost efficiency. She added that digital entitlement will allow owners of physical disc games to access those titles digitally on future consoles, with rights transferring when discs are resold.

The executive said the ability to play existing games on future hardware will continue, citing Xbox’s history of backwards compatibility. She declined to confirm whether the upcoming console, codenamed Project Helix, will include a disc drive.

Sharma, who assumed the Xbox leadership role six months ago after a tenure in Microsoft’s AI division, emphasized a long‑term view that aims to keep the company relevant for the next 25 years and to serve gaming as a dominant entertainment form. She described the coming years as challenging but said the focus will be on hardware efficiency, storage and memory usage, and price per unit.

The company plans to ensure a sustainable experience for players as it navigates a market where console prices have risen for the first time in years.