Xbox boss ‘thinking about affordability’ of next-gen console

Xbox's chief executive Asha Sharma has stated that her company needs to consider affordability for its upcoming next-gen console due to a "crisis" in computing prices. Rising hardware costs, partly driven by the surge in AI spending, have forced firms to find ways to make gaming more affordable. Sharma revealed that gamers will soon be able to get digital versions of many physical games they currently own, allowing them to play their old games on future Xbox consoles without needing a disc drive.

She emphasized the importance of providing players with a choice between digital and physical media. The issue has been controversial, with Sony announcing that new PlayStation games will no longer be released on discs from January 2028, and the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI also launching without a physical disc. Sharma mentioned that around 1,000 titles with physical discs will have digital entitlements, with the transfer of digital rights to new owners if the disc is sold second-hand.

She hinted that this feature would allow gamers to play their old titles on future hardware. However, she declined to reveal whether the next-generation Xbox console will have a disc drive. Xbox's next console, currently codenamed Project Helix, will prioritize efficiency and affordability alongside performance. The company faces price hikes in consoles due to the soaring costs of components like RAM, driven by AI companies purchasing all available parts for data centers.

Sharma emphasized that the entire industry needs to innovate on affordability and efficiency, as it has never been required before. She highlighted that AI is transforming the gaming landscape, and Xbox must take these changes into account while building the best experience for players.