Microsoft gaming update GDC: Just a few days ago Microsoft had dropped a teaser that showcased where the tech giant wants to go when gaming is concerned. Glimpses of what the project Helix would offer were shared by Microsoft in a post on X previously, and now the company plans to ship Project Helix's alpha versions, which is the next-gen Xbox console, to developers in 2027 as announced during the Game Developers Conference (GDC). Now Microsoft has shared some more details of what the next generation of Xbox would be offering, with the company claiming "an order of magnitude leap” when it comes to ray-tracing performance.
At the GDC, which took place in San Francisco on March 9, during a keynote, Jason Ronald, vice president of Next Generation at Xbox, shed some light on the upcoming hardware the device will come with. This time Microsoft is offering what gamers have been waiting for a very long time: cross-platform compatibility, meaning the next-gen Xbox will run both Xbox and PC games and run on a custom AMD SoC. Ronald expressed at the GDC that this latest console was made in collaboration with AMD “for the next generation of DirectX and FSR to unlock what comes next".
What Will The Next-Gen Xbox Offer?
The company executive guaranteed that the new console will see a major leap when it comes to performance and capability when Project Helix is considered.
“It delivers an order of magnitude leap in ray tracing performance and capability, integrates intelligence directly into the graphics and compute pipeline, and drives meaningful gains in efficiency, scale, and visual ambition. The result is more realistic, immersive, and dynamic worlds for players," Ronald expressed in the keynote, summarised on Xbox Wire.
The company is also ready to ship out its alpha version to developers in 2027, which suggests that Microsoft might be closer to launching this new Xbox than previously thought. One reason for that could be the current scenario with memory chips in the market, as demand and prices both have risen considerably. Another point to note here is that the system will be backwards compatible with all previous-generation Xboxes, as was the case with the Xbox Series X/S. Ronald expressed that Microsoft was "committed" when it comes to keeping all four generations of Xbox games playable for users.
Windows 11 To Get Xbox Mode
Microsoft is preparing to bring a more console-like gaming experience to Windows 11. The company has confirmed that an Xbox mode will start rolling out in April. The feature first appeared as the Xbox full-screen experience on the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds and allows users to boot directly into the Xbox app for a cleaner, console-style interface. According to Microsoft executive Ronald, the mode will initially be available in select markets.
The update comes as Microsoft also pushes ahead with Project Helix, which was officially announced last week by Microsoft Gaming’s new CEO Asha Sharma, who replaced Phil Spencer. Sharma said the initiative will “lead in performance” while supporting both Xbox and PC games.
Meanwhile, Microsoft has not revealed any launch timeline for the next-generation Xbox, and Sony has also stayed quiet about the PlayStation 6. Reports suggest the tenth generation of consoles could arrive around late 2027, although possible RAM and storage shortages and rising costs could cause delays. The current generation, including PS5 and Xbox Series S/X, launched in 2020.