In response to increasing hardware costs and advances in AI, Xbox plans to prioritize “efficiency and affordability alongside performance” in their next-generation console
Amid increasing expenses for hardware components and advancements in artificial intelligence, Xbox is emphasizing “efficiency and affordability alongside performance” for its upcoming console generation.
Speaking to the BBC, Xbox head Asha Sharma stated, “All of the industry needs to start to innovate on affordability and efficiency,” noting that this is a new challenge compared to previous trends.
Sharma pointed out that due to the current hardware and component crisis, innovation becomes essential to offer players varied options in console usage and purchase.
Though Sharma did not specify if Project Helix, the codename for the next Xbox, would include a disc drive, she commented on the platform’s initiative allowing players to convert physical game discs into digital versions through Xbox’s disc-to-digital feature.
She emphasized the importance of choice, recognizing the appeal of both physical and digital media, and assured that the company’s commitment to backward compatibility will continue.
On the subject of artificial intelligence, Sharma noted its significant impact, saying it “is fundamentally changing a lot of things.”
In her previous role as CoreAI president at Microsoft, she emphasized the goal of creating an optimal experience for players by considering global advancements.
For Project Helix, Sharma highlighted the need for “hardware efficiency.” This involves the management of storage and memory, evaluating price per unit, and selecting components.
She reiterated the company’s stance of having “no tolerance for bad AI”, stressing that while the technology can support creativity, Xbox will focus on art carefully crafted by humans.
Sharma, along with Xbox’s chief content officer Matt Booty, clarified that there is no pressure from Microsoft to incorporate AI extensively.
Booty remarked that teams have the freedom to explore useful technologies, particularly those enhancing production processes like code writing or bug checking. However, the primary commitment remains to human-created art.
Regarding Xbox’s organizational transformation, Sharma addressed the restructuring efforts, which included laying off 3,200 employees, about 20% of the workforce, and divesting five internal studios.
She mentioned that the restructuring aims to ensure sustainability over the next several decades while adjusting to the preferences of a new generation of gamers.
