Microsoft's next console

From	Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com>
Newsgroups	rec.games.computer.ultima.dragons
Subject	Microsoft's next console
Date	2026-03-06 13:46 -0500
Message-ID	<fk7mqk9ec7ujhuneukcs5oakih2selp46r@4ax.com> (permalink)

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So Microsoft is making a new XBox after all... and it's going to be a
Steam Machine.*

Well, not really... but sorta. Reports are "Project Helix" will play
XBox and PC games... and hints are that it will essentially be a
locked-down PC that can only access games from Microsoft's own store
(the PC XBox app) or streamed via GamePass. Which isn't really that
different from Valve's Steam Machine, except for the source of the
games.

What it won't be is a dedicated gaming powerhouse with hardware unique
to the platform, so that games will only run exclusively on the
device. Any restrictions will be required by the licensing, not the
technology. Doubtlessly, all the best and most modern games will only
be available through streaming too, because it seems unlikely that MS
will pour a lot of money and resources into the GPU and RAM when they
can just run the games on offsite servers.

Good luck with that strategy, Microsoft. I can't see many rushing to
take advantage of it. Gamers might as well just buy a PC (where they
get access to more games and better hardware to boot), and developers
will stick to PCs as well, since the audience is larger and they can
just re-license the games to sell on the XBox app if they want to get
the few dozen people who actually buy games there instead of on Steam.

Or they'll develop for PS6/Switch2, where there's some actual
exclusivity.

But Project Helix? Why bother?

Well, maybe to use CoPilot, Microsoft's embedded AI that it's pushing
so hard and I am sure will be in the new console too. Everybody's so
excited about that! /s

* one article about it here
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/microsofts-next-console-will-play-pc-games-too-and-its-currently-dubbed-codenamed-project-helix

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Thread

Microsoft's next console Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> - 2026-03-06 13:46 -0500
  Re: Microsoft's next console Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> - 2026-03-06 14:23 -0500
    Re: Microsoft's next console "Mickmane" <ATH@kruemel.org> - 2026-03-07 08:01 +0100
      Re: Microsoft's next console Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> - 2026-03-07 10:45 -0500
        Re: Microsoft's next console "Mickmane" <ATH@kruemel.org> - 2026-03-08 11:32 +0100

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