Next-gen Xbox console reportedly costs up to $1,800, with Helix handheld available in 2027 and full release in holiday 2028

The price of the next-generation Xbox console, codenamed Project Helix, might be higher than many of us expected. Helix, which would come in two devices, is estimated to cost nearly $2,000.

That’s according to a new report and wide-ranging profile of Xbox CEO Asha Sharma published by Fortune Magazine. In it, it’s claimed that Xbox’s internal estimates came in at a staggering price: between $1,200 (~£900) and $1,800 (~£1,345). It’s not just the cost of components and manufacturing, but how much Xbox would expect the console to cost consumers, assuming it isn’t subsidized.

The report also reveals that Helix, which Sharma previously highlighted is a family of devices, will effectively include two consoles: a traditional box and a portable console. Xbox reportedly intends to release the portable Helix first, with the current target being Holiday 2027. The main box under the TV, Helix, is instead planned for Holiday 2028.

As shocking as these prices may be, they’re not totally out of line with what industry insiders say we should expect. The global shortage of memory and storage due to AI has led to a significant increase in the prices of virtually all consumer electronics devices. The shortages have also led Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo to raise the prices of their years-old current-generation consoles multiple times since their launch.

The flagship Xbox Series The Series S, initially billed as a budget entry-level console, now costs $500/£430, up from $300/£250. A $1,200 Helix console would mean a 50% increase over the Series X’s current price.

The report also revealed an internal divide between the Xbox and Windows teams over which operating system the portable Helix should run. Microsoft’s Windows team reportedly wanted a stripped-down version of Windows Home to run on the handheld, while the Xbox team instead wanted specialized software to maximize gaming performance.

The disagreements were reportedly so serious that an Xbox executive threatened to shut down the portable console project altogether. However, it’s unclear what exactly the big Helix box will run, as it has been envisioned as a bridge between PC and Xbox, capable of playing games on both platforms.