Xbox CEO hints Project Helix may block Steam, limiting appeal of console PC hybrid

[TandB]

Some people who like Xbox are getting a little worried about the console that Microsoft is working on which is called Project Helix. The person in charge of Xbox, Asha Sharma said that it is not certain if Project Helix will work with Steam and the Epic Games Store. This is a problem because it means that Project Helix might not have many games as people thought it would. This is a problem if Project Helix is really expensive like some people think it will be.

Project Helix is supposed to be a console and a computer in one so a lot of people thought it would definitely work with other game stores. That is why what Asha Sharma said was surprising. When she talked to Game File she did not say if Steam would be on the Xbox. She did not make it clear what would happen.

Game Files Stephen Totilo also talked about a note that Asha Sharma and Matt Booty wrote. They said that Microsoft wants to make a system that's more open. This made people think of the ROG Xbox Ally, which's a small computer that can play games from different stores. People thought that maybe Project Helix would be like that too.

When someone asked Asha Sharma directly she did not say yes or no. She said that Microsoft wants to let more people make games for Project Helix and give players ways to make the experience their own. This sounds good. It does not answer the question. If Project Helix does not work with Steam and Epic then the idea of a console and computer all, in one is not as exciting. People are still waiting to hear what will happen with Project Helix and the game stores.

 

[emigre]

May as well just make it into a traditional console.

This era of Xbox with no cohesive vision or clarity is fascinating. It's like watching a car crash but it involves billions of dollars.

 

[Lumstar]

Precarious, this is. Supporting a mere fraction of PC games will vastly boost the library.
But a console that runs arbitrary code is an open invitation for pirates...

 

[Skv0ra]

Precarious, this is. Supporting a mere fraction of PC games will vastly boost the library.
But a console that runs arbitrary code is an open invitation for pirates...

But there's been nothing to really pirate from Xbox for, a VERY, very long time. Plus ever since M$ officially blended Win gaming with the Eksbaks - piracy was welcomed right in.

And M$ NOT having other storefronts on their new system should be of little to no surprise. It probably being something overpriced and underpowered/limited in flexibility like the ValveCube is likely also a given otherwise they'll take a massive hit setting straight up PCs that people should never consider off the bat. Hell, M$ doing the Asus collab already painted a picture of them being on their very last ropes.

 

[AmeliaFox]

Who would buy a limited system like that when you can just buy a gaming pc or Steam Machine? It doesn't make any sense, Microsoft have ruined Windows with Windows 11, they ruined Xbox since the 360 and now they want to make a crippled gaming system. The people that are making these strange decisions are way out of touch with the people they expect to be customers. Or maybe I am missing something and they are looking to pander to some niche group of people that will be happy about this, but for me it's a solid pass.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Not really a PC then. The whole point of a PC is that you can install whatever software you want.

 

[KiiWii]

I bet Steam Machine gets an Xbox app first.

 

[sevenisseven]

what’s the point of this machine then? it’s just limiting the amount of games you can access by a thousand fold. of course, there will be a crack for that within the first week, but it’s just another puzzling decision in a slog of absurd nonsense. the right method is to strike a deal with valve, but that would be too good of a decision for modern xbox.

 

[Bladexdsl]

so it's basically going to be a windows 11 box than. it's doomed to fail!

 

[shadowflare7799]

I think the last good xbox we had was xbox 360. Used to play the shit out of it. Was always a PC gamer will always be one. Don't get me wrong I loved consoles growing up such as commodore 64 pc, amiga,atari, nes, snes, ps1, and ps2 etc. I'll just always be a pc gamer at heart.

 

[Jayro]

The fact that it's 2026, and leaders of large companies are still making bonehead decisions that are causing backlash is hilarious to me. The fact that they don't listen to any of the concerns or backlash and full-steam ahead with their shitty ideas just to end up tanking their project is even more of a head-scratcher. It's almost like wasting billions of dollars on something is a fetish for them.

 

[ChibiMofo]

I bet Steam Machine gets an Xbox app first.

I bet $team Machine never ships.

Post automatically merged: Apr 27, 2026

so it's basically going to be a windows 11 box than. it's doomed to fail!

Actually, that would make it an instant success. You listen to the whiney Linux losers too much. Something that can run Xbox games and is basically a Windows 11 box from MSFT would outsell whatever proprietary shit Sony has planned for the future. And that should be obvious to even you.

Post automatically merged: Apr 27, 2026

Some people who like Xbox are getting a little worried about the console that Microsoft is working on which is called Project Helix. The person in charge of Xbox, Asha Sharma said that it is not certain if Project Helix will work with Steam and the Epic Games Store. This is a problem because it means that Project Helix might not have many games as people thought it would. This is a problem if Project Helix is really expensive like some people think it will be.

Project Helix is supposed to be a console and a computer in one so a lot of people thought it would definitely work with other game stores. That is why what Asha Sharma said was surprising. When she talked to Game File she did not say if Steam would be on the Xbox. She did not make it clear what would happen.

Game Files Stephen Totilo also talked about a note that Asha Sharma and Matt Booty wrote. They said that Microsoft wants to make a system that's more open. This made people think of the ROG Xbox Ally, which's a small computer that can play games from different stores. People thought that maybe Project Helix would be like that too.

When someone asked Asha Sharma directly she did not say yes or no. She said that Microsoft wants to let more people make games for Project Helix and give players ways to make the experience their own. This sounds good. It does not answer the question. If Project Helix does not work with Steam and Epic then the idea of a console and computer all, in one is not as exciting. People are still waiting to hear what will happen with Project Helix and the game stores.

Your clickbait headline said "Xbox CEO hints Project Helix may block Steam, limiting appeal of console PC hybrid"

Of course she never said either of those things. Not once. It is obvious you have an agenda here. Either report the truth or head back to 4chan where you belong.

 

[Bladexdsl]

Actually, that would make it an instant success.

with windows 11 it will NEVER be a success. that goes with ANYTHING running win11

 

[AndorfRequissa]

Your clickbait headline said "Xbox CEO hints Project Helix may block Steam, limiting appeal of console PC hybrid"

Of course she never said either of those things. Not once. It is obvious you have an agenda here. Either report the truth or head back to 4chan where you belong.

so heres what was actually reported. which does matchup with wording of the headline. you can dispute it but stop trying to tell people they dont have a place here and should go elsewhere. your not a moderator and you dont run this site. everyone has a right to share their opinions and views.

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As part of the interview, Totilo brought up past comments from Epic Games' Steve Allison, who runs the digital storefront, noting that Microsoft is open to the Epic Games Store being on Xbox and that, as far as he's aware, that's the plan for the next console.

"We definitely plan to be on the new hardware for Xbox, because, unless their policy or stance on it changes, they are telling us they’re going to welcome that," Allison said in early February. "And we’re going be there, like, on day one. That will probably require us to build in whatever their requirements are, some sort of software to support that."

However, Sharma was quick to correct the record when it comes to PC marketplaces on Xbox, noting that, "what we shared with our team is that we want the platform to be open for more people to create on the platform and more players to participate in customizing and extending that."

She noted that the conversations that Allison is referring to occurred with the past regime, one that she wasn't part of.

"I wasn’t part of those conversations, so we’ll make those decisions going forward as a team and with our partners," Sharma said. "We’ll share more when we can."

Based off the exchange, it's not a definite "No" that there won't be other marketplaces, but it seems that Microsoft is back to the drawing board on what it means to have an "open" console and how players can interact with PC features.
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