Microsoft’s upcoming Project Helix, a rumoured console-PC hybrid, could arrive with no guaranteed Steam support.
That’s according to Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma, though she stopped short of confirming whether third-party storefronts like Steam or the Epic Games Store will be available on the device.
Speaking in an interview with Game File, Sharma reiterated Microsoft’s push toward a more “open” ecosystem. However, she didn’t clarify what that actually means for Helix. When asked directly about Steam, she avoided giving a firm answer. Instead, she pointed to a broader goal of letting “more people create on the platform” and also mentioned giving players more ways to customise their experience.
That ambiguity is raising eyebrows, especially since early expectations positioned Helix as something closer to a Windows-based gaming machine. This is similar to handhelds like the ROG Ally where multiple storefronts are part of the appeal. Without Steam, the idea of a hybrid device starts to look a lot more like a traditional console with extra flexibility.
There’s also some mixed messaging from Microsoft’s partners. Epic Games Store boss Steve Allison previously suggested his platform could land on the new Xbox hardware. However, Sharma later admitted she wasn’t involved in those discussions and said decisions are still being made internally.
Whether third-party storefronts make the cut could have a big impact on how Helix is received and how much it costs. A more closed system would allow Microsoft to push users toward its own store, potentially offsetting hardware costs in the same way Sony and Nintendo do with their consoles. But that trade-off could limit the device’s appeal, particularly for PC players expecting access to their existing libraries.
There are also hints that Microsoft is rethinking other parts of its strategy, including exclusivity and platform identity, though nothing has been confirmed yet. For now, Helix remains a bit of a question mark.
If Microsoft leans too far into a walled garden, Project Helix risks losing the very thing that makes a console-PC hybrid exciting in the first place.
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