"Project Helix will be available as a 1st party Xbox console": Microsoft pushes back on swirling third-party hardware rumors

In response to claims from a leaker and ongoing chatter on X (formerly Twitter), Jason Ronald has weighed in directly on whether Xbox will ship its own console next generation. For those unaware of Ronald's position, he is the "Vice President of Xbox Gaming Devices & Ecosystem".

The original claim from a leaker suggested Xbox wouldn’t sell its next-generation console directly to consumers, instead shifting to OEM-branded hardware from companies like ASUS or MSI. Now, I'm personally a fan of the idea of OEM-branded Xbox consoles, as long as they can play your existing Xbox library.

Still, Ronald didn’t fully rule out the possibility of OEM devices existing alongside it. However, he did clearly confirm that Xbox is still building its own console that will be sold directly to consumers: "Project Helix will be available as a 1st party Xbox console".

It’s always nice to see senior Xbox leadership step in and address claims like this directly. Rumors around Xbox have been especially frequent lately, and many seem to jump on the “Xbox is dead” narrative rather than offering anything substantial.

It’s hard not to feel somewhat hopeful about Xbox right now. I’ll admit, as someone who has had a fairly sour view of the brand over the past few years, that feeling is starting to shift, especially since Asha Sharma stepped in and began making immediate changes.

Jason Ronald’s comments help set clearer expectations, and they seem to align with Sharma’s more visible and direct approach. She’s been increasingly vocal online, even reaching out publicly to a former Sony executive.

That said, Xbox still has a lot of work to do. Jez Corden’s latest article even argues that Xbox needs to take a more assertive approach instead of appearing to constantly apologize for its own existence.

Let me know your thoughts on Ronald’s comments, do they ease my mind at all about Project Helix or do they just raise more questions? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll!

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.