Ars Technica reported on October 20, 2026, that Fortune attributed an internal consumer-price projection of $1,200–$1,800 to Microsoft for Project Helix. A possible subsidy could lower the price buyers eventually pay.
What the reported price projection says
The range is an internal projection, rather than a retail price tied to a specific configuration. Fortune’s report also describes a possible Microsoft subsidy, which could bring the consumer price below the projection. The report does not give a subsidy amount.
Microsoft announced Project Helix in March 2026 as a next-generation Xbox console designed to play Xbox and PC games. That’s the planned system behind the price projection.
Why other Project Helix price forecasts differ
Analyst Serkan Toto separately forecast that a base model could cost $900 or more, with a premium model potentially higher. Hardware commentator Moore’s Law Is Dead outlined different scenarios: about $900 at cost, $999 as an aggressive price, roughly $1,200 as likely, and up to $1,500 as plausible. His estimates used illustrative component-cost assumptions, not a verified bill of materials.
These are separate forecasts with different assumptions. They give readers a range of outside views, while Fortune’s figure remains an internal projection attributed to Microsoft.
Sharma’s comments and the reported 2028 target
In a June 2026 Bloomberg Tech interview, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma said hardware-cost pressures would require fundamental changes to innovation and business models. NeoTeo previously covered Sharma’s reported console-first approach and possible partner products in its article on Microsoft’s plans for the next Xbox device family.
Fortune’s reported roadmap places the Project Helix home console in the 2028 holiday season.
