Project Helix Is Xbox’s Biggest Ever Challenge

Microsoft's Project Helix promises a console/PC hybrid for the next generation, but how will those sides work together to create a cohesive Xbox? Xbox has created a fascinating challenge for itself: Project Helix has to be two devices in one box. A video game console and a PC are, despite their similarities, two distinct things, and Helix needs to be both using just a single hardware setup. And that’s where the difficulties start. If Helix is to play PC games without any caveats – if this Xbox is to play any and all games available on Steam, Epic Games Store, Ubisoft Connect, GOG, and any other service, rather than select games ringfenced by the Microsoft Store – then the hardware will need to be designed with a PC-first mindset. It will need to be capable of running games designed for the PC’s open, less precision-optimised environment at “next gen” quality, a situation that will presumably dictate the machine’s specifications.