Xbox’s next-generation console, codenamed Project Helix, may arrive with a higher price than many players expected. According to Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, the global memory shortage is creating serious problems for the hardware industry, and Microsoft will also feel the impact when preparing its next console.
The biggest issue comes from RAM prices, which have increased a lot because of the massive demand from AI companies and data centers. As more businesses invest in artificial intelligence, memory components are becoming harder to get and much more expensive. This is putting pressure on many tech products, including gaming consoles.
Because of this, Microsoft may have to launch Project Helix at a higher price than expected. In an interview with Game File, Sharma explained that memory costs have become a major part of the production “equation,” affecting both pricing and availability. She stated, “All of these things are an equation. Memory costs will impact pricing, will impact availability. As we think about being where the world plays, we will take that into consideration. So we’re not ready to share a launch timeline right now.”
The RAM shortage could also create stock problems at launch, making it harder for Microsoft to keep enough consoles available in stores. This could lead to the same kind of supply issues players saw during the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S launches, where demand was high but stock was limited for months. Even with these challenges, Sharma says its main goal is still to build a “great console” that can run both console and PC games natively. Development kits are expected next year, but the final release date for Project Helix is still unknown.
In other news, Asha Sharma recently stated she “wasn’t part of those conversations” regarding prior claims of official Steam and Epic Games Store support on Project Helix.
