- According to Jez Corden, adding Steam and other storefronts no longer makes sense for Xbox Helix.
- The open PC ecosystem will result in lost software sales, leading to a console priced like a high-end PC.
- Xbox could be moving forward with a revenue-sharing model with stores like Epic and Steam.
Xbox has been working on Project Helix, its next-gen console, for a decade and has already started marketing it as a PC-console hybrid with high-end hardware and an even higher price tag. The hardware is expected to feature storefronts like the Epic Games Store and Steam due to its hybrid nature, with the former confirming it has already talked to Microsoft.
The integration of such platforms has been teased for some time now and could be a game-changer for the next-gen Xbox Helix. However, it seems like the gaming giant could be backtracking on its promise due to a myriad of reasons.
Why it matters: An open PC system might sound enticing on paper, but with Xbox already losing money on consoles, a move like this has more cons than pros.
According to insider Jez Corden, Steam integration no longer makes sense for Xbox Helix due to the recent memory crisis and its knock-on effects. The insider stated that Microsoft will lose money on software sales if digital stores like Epic and Steam are available on the PC-console hybrid, meaning the console will need an exorbitant price tag to recoup costs.
The journalist mentioned that only 2% of the non-Game Pass subscribers who use the Xbox Ally buy products from the Xbox Store, while the rest gravitate towards Steam. Hence, users essentially treat the Xbox device like a Steam Box, and Project Helix will get similar treatment with its open PC model.
Corden revealed that Microsoft might keep its promise of supporting PC games in the next generation, but Steam might not be part of the open ecosystem. According to the insider, the company could develop a revenue-sharing model with stores like Epic and GOG, leaving Steam out of the mix.
Hence, Team Green will be able to get a cut of software sales, allowing it to subsidise Project Helix. CEO Asha Sharma also hinted previously that the company could be going back on its promise of Steam Integration, but fans will have to wait and see what happens.
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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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