- Asha Sharma has teased disc drives for Project Helix in a new interview.
- While not a clear answer, she says she wants Xbox users to have a choice in playing physical games.
- The brand’s main priority is making sure the next console is affordable and efficient.
With Sony’s announcement to end disc production in 2028, the gaming industry is accelerating its shift away from physical media because of revenue and logistics concerns. However, Xbox is still exploring an option to hold onto discs and pursue disc drives for Project Helix.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has teased the existence of disc drives for Project Helix. While not an outright confirmation, she says she wants the users of the ecosystem to have a choice in how they play their games.
Why it matters: A large number of users want Project Helix to have a disc drive as PS6 moves toward an all-digital console. This choice would give Microsoft the edge over Sony in the next console generation, especially after Series X|S got overshadowed by the PS5.
In an interview with the BBC, Asha Sharma highlights that Xbox’s main priority is to make Project Helix as affordable and efficient as possible, given the ongoing memory crisis that has made pricing a real concern for the brand for the first time.
However, she acknowledges that players love discs even if there are a lot of advantages to digital games. She wants to ensure that people can play their stacks of discs on Project Helix.
I know players love physical media, and I know there’s a lot of benefits in digital media, and I want to make sure people have a choice. There are stacks of games on everybody’s shelves.
-Xbox CEO, Asha Sharma.
She argues that Xbox needs to give players more choice in how they play their console and how they buy their console.
Xbox is already making strides with its new disc-to-digital program, which bridges the gap between digital and physical releases. So, fans have incredibly high expectations from the brand’s next console, even as the memory crisis threatens to drive its price to climb over $1200.
Do you think Asha Sharma is teasing a disc drive for Project Helix in the interview? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
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