Microsoft's internal estimates suggest the upcoming Project Helix console could launch with a price as high as $1,800, according to a Fortune report. The figure represents the upper bound of a projected range between $1,200 and $1,800, though the company may adjust pricing through subsidies. The console, described by Microsoft as a "very premium, very high end" device comparable to a powerful gaming PC, is slated for release before the 2028 holiday season, later than earlier expectations. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has cited ongoing component cost volatility as a factor in pricing uncertainty.

The projected cost would make Project Helix the most expensive Xbox model to date, roughly double the price of the PlayStation 5 Pro. Microsoft has indicated the device will support both Xbox and PC games, though its pricing strategy remains subject to internal review.

Concurrently, Microsoft plans to release a next-generation Xbox handheld by the 2027 holiday period, following the October 2025 launch of the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X devices. Internal divisions within the company have reportedly clashed over the handheld's software architecture, with the Windows team advocating for a streamlined Windows Home variant and Sharma's team proposing a proprietary system optimized for gaming performance. These disagreements have reached a point where Xbox leadership considered terminating the handheld project.

The console's development occurs amid broader restructuring at Xbox, including workforce reductions across the gaming division and revisions to Xbox Game Studios' organizational framework. The company has also introduced initiatives such as Xbox XP and Xbox Labs, focused on generative AI applications in game development, and is reworking its Game Pass subscription model to adopt a more flexible, à la carte approach. These changes reflect ongoing efforts to adapt to market pressures while navigating technical and financial challenges associated with next-generation hardware.