Microsoft has reportedly set a price target of $1,200 to $1,800 for its 2028 Project Helix hardware. The Xbox team is now largely controlling the operating system direction for the project, though leadership says the groups remain closely aligned. Microsoft has pressured the hardware team to accelerate timelines by several months, leveraging AI tools in the process.
In a significant shift for the gaming division, Xbox Game Pass is expected to transition to a tiered "a la carte" structure, allowing subscribers to pick and choose add-ons for console-only games, cloud gaming, and multiplayer. This move would mark a departure from the current unified plans that bundle cloud gaming, exclusives, and multiplayer. The profile also addresses internal speculation regarding leadership changes, with Microsoft executive Judson Althoff denying reports that the executive was placed solely to enact cuts prior to a potential spinoff sale, stating the executive would not be assigned to a business intended for divestiture.
Source: Ars Technica · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing