- According to Jez Corden, Xbox Helix could ship without a controller to bring down costs.
- The insider stated that Valve is also taking a similar approach to reduce the price of the Steam Machine.
- Corden also pitched that Xbox could let consumers purchase their own SSDs.
This week was filled with statements from Xbox higher-ups regarding the future of the company and the difficulties it faces in the next 100 days under Asha Sharma. The new CEO has done a good job in changing the brand’s direction by reducing the price of Game Pass and bringing back exclusives.
However, there are still many problems Xbox has to fix if it wants to return to profitability, and one of those is the pricing of the upcoming Project Helix. According to an insider, the company could ship the next-gen console without an essential component to keep costs down.
Why it matters: Shipping a console without a controller seems like a terrible decision on face value, but it could be the only way Xbox Helix can ship at a reasonable price.
According to Jez Corden, Xbox could launch the upcoming Project Helix without a controller included in the package to reduce costs.
Someone told me that the Steam Machine was going to be shipped without a controller. I don’t need the next Xbox to come with a controller personally. So I do think that’s going to be a thing that will happen, to drive down costs, too.
While speaking on a live stream, the insider stated that he has heard Valve might ship the Steam Machine without a controller and predicted that Xbox could take a similar approach.
Corden also said that another strategy the company could use is letting players buy their own SSDs for Xbox Helix, something it has already done with the first iteration of Xbox 360. The console did not launch with a hard drive initially, but consumers could purchase it separately if they wanted to.

The CEO and CSO of the gaming giant have reiterated that Xbox is looking at several ways it could change its business strategy to reduce the price of Project Helix, as no gamer wants to buy a console for $1,000-plus in the current market. According to Jez Corden, these two methods are the most plausible alternatives the company can use to reduce costs.
Do you think Xbox Helix will ship for more than $1,000? Can the company find a way to reduce its price tag while facing memory shortages? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.
Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋
How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔
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.


