Xbox Set to Launch Next-Gen Portable Console by 2027 Amid OS Disputes and $1800 Price Tag

Upcoming Next-Generation Xbox Portable Console

According to НВ — Техно: Xbox is gearing up to release a next-generation portable console by the end of 2027, following the Xbox Ally X developed in partnership with Asus. However, internal disagreements have emerged between the Xbox and Windows teams over which operating system the new device should run. While the Xbox team advocates for a gaming-optimized OS, the Windows group pushes for Windows Home. The dispute escalated to the point where a senior Xbox executive threatened to cancel the project if it was forced to adopt the Windows build.

Next Home Console and Project Helix Pricing

Alongside the handheld device, Xbox plans to launch its next home console during the 2028 holiday season. Consoles under the Project Helix initiative could cost up to $1800 USD, approximately 81,000 Ukrainian hryvnias before subsidies. Currently, the Xbox team primarily directs the operating system’s development. Despite this, the Xbox Ally X UI, which runs on top of Windows, has been criticized for instability, lagging behind the Steam Deck in optimization, and negatively impacting performance.

The Xbox and Windows teams are collaborating closely on Project Helix. As Asha Sharma noted,

“We can’t build Helix alone.”

This highlights the ongoing efforts to find a workable compromise between the two departments in creating future Xbox consoles.

These internal conflicts reveal the challenges of merging advanced gaming technology with operating systems, a factor that could affect the market competitiveness of upcoming Xbox products. Given the fast pace of technological innovation and rising gamer expectations, resolving these disputes effectively will be crucial to the success of Project Helix.