Xbox CTO Issues Statement On How Project Helix OS Is Being ‘Built On Windows’
Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox console, codenamed Project Helix, will be built on Windows, according to a statement from Xbox CTO Scott Van Vlie. The clarification addresses recent reporting that revealed internal disagreements between Microsoft’s Xbox and Windows divisions regarding the operating system architecture for the company’s next hardware generation.
Fortune magazine reported on tensions between the two teams over the OS selection, raising questions about what direction the next Xbox console would take. Windows Central subsequently published additional reporting on the same internal clashes. These disclosures prompted speculation about whether Project Helix would maintain the operating system strategy of the current-generation Xbox Series X and Series S consoles.
The CTO’s statement confirms that Project Helix will continue using a Windows-based operating system, suggesting the next generation of Xbox hardware will follow the architectural foundation established by the current generation. This decision reportedly created friction between the Xbox and Windows teams internally, though Van Vlie’s public statement clarifies the chosen direction.
Project Helix is planned as a premium next-generation console offering. Recent industry reporting has suggested Xbox is planning to release a handheld gaming device in 2027, followed by the Project Helix console in 2028.