- Asha Sharma revealed that Xbox is working to bring down the cost of Project Helix.
- The CEO doesn’t think fans are willing to pay $1,000 or more for next-gen hardware.
- Sharma stated that the company needs to do a lot of work to make Project Helix More affordable.
Like most things in the gaming industry, the console ecosystem has been hit extremely hard by the AI boom. Thanks to memory shortages, gaming giants like Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo have had to raise prices to the dismay of fans.
With next-gen hardware reportedly launching in the coming years, the entire industry is waiting to see how the biggest companies will price their premium products. According to Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, the company’s upcoming console will be affordable as no one is willing to pay thousands of Dollars.
Why it matters: By recognising that consumers won’t buy a console priced well above $1,000, Asha Sharma and Xbox have taken the first step in competing with the PS6.
While talking to Fortune in a new interview, Asha Sharma stated that Xbox is exploring new business models to bring down the price of Project Helix, as she can’t imagine audiences paying over $1,000 for the upcoming console generation.
I think that we will continue to look at new business models. I think it is what is needed for the console, rather than just the most premium, high-performance console in the world. I think we’ve reached a point where it will be hard to imagine that mass audiences can afford 1000s of dollars to spend on a console generation.
The CEO insisted that the industry doesn’t need to develop the highest-performing console on the market. Instead, companies should focus on innovating new ideas and business models to make hardware more economical.
When asked whether Project Helix will be a premium offering, Sharma explained that the console will have “leading-end” performance. However, Xbox has to do a lot of work to make sure it is available and affordable for the fans who want to play.
Reports earlier this year suggested that the upcoming Project Helix could cost at least $1,200, with the PS6 retailing for half of that price tag. However, it seems like Asha Sharma has finally realised that Xbox can’t compete next generation with such a hefty price gap between PS6 and its own hardware.
Do you think Project Helix will now retail for less than $1,000? Will PS6 win the next-gen console war based on price tag alone? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.
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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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