Xbox Helix: A Family of Devices, Including a Handheld?

Could Xbox be cooking up its own handheld? That's the buzz after new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma dropped some intriguing hints about the future of Xbox hardware during a recent town hall meeting.

Sharma talked about Xbox Project Helix, saying it will encompass a "family of devices" for Gen-10 – the generation that'll include the PS6 and whatever Xbox Helix becomes. "We are moving to a family of devices for Gen-10," she said, according to a transcript shared with Windows Central. "There is not one device that fits all. We will certainly have a great console first, but we also know that many players will be on the go."

That last bit has everyone thinking: is Xbox making a handheld? It sure sounds like it. The device would seemingly be in the same vein as Valve's Steam Deck or Nintendo's Switch 2 – a portable system for gaming on the move. But don't expect Xbox to go it alone. Sharma added, "There are some things that we are the best in the world to manufacture, and there are other things that [we will] partner on." That suggests third-party manufacturers might actually build the handheld, similar to how the ROG Xbox Ally works.

Sharma also emphasized that the core console remains crucial. "We will certainly have a great console first," she said, pushing back against concerns that Xbox is shifting away from hardware. But she also admitted the brand doesn't have "the right" to aim beyond console if it can't treat its "most valuable players" – its core user base – "the right way." That's a notable acknowledgment following years of multiplatform efforts that have led to layoffs and closures across Xbox studios.

So what will this portable Helix device actually be? Details are scarce, but it sounds closer to a Steam Deck or Steam Machine – an operating system in a box that also plays PC games – rather than a Switch-like hybrid. And it's unclear how Xbox plans to tackle the affordability crisis facing new consoles, something Sharma has repeatedly urged.

One thing's for sure: the operating system is coming along. "The operating system is starting to look really good. We're very excited about this," Sharma teased. More details will be shared as plans develop.

In the meantime, Sharma also said working with PlayStation is on the table, even after Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear successor Physint swapped publishers: "Competition and collaboration can coexist." So Xbox is keeping its options open on multiple fronts.

What do you think? Is a portable Xbox something you'd pick up, or are you sticking with the console? Let us know in the comments!