Steam on the next Xbox: Project Helix could change how we buy games on the new console

Project Helix could change Xbox forever: the big dilemma of Steam and the other stores.

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What Project Helix brings to the table, running PC games alongside Xbox titles, is not just a change of scenery, but a complete overhaul of the decor on Microsoft’s new console. This also raises a rather delicate question for the brand’s future: how will the Xbox Store fit into a machine that could coexist with stores like Steam or Epic Games Store.

This is precisely one of the debates that’s gaining traction among gamers. If the next Xbox truly embraces the concept of a PC designed for gaming from the comfort of your couch, Microsoft will have to convince its users why they should keep buying within their ecosystem when a large part of the PC audience already has their library spread across multiple platforms.

Project Helix could force Xbox to offer more reasons to stay within its store

A segment of the community believes that Microsoft won’t stop publishing its games on Steam or other stores, as this would go against a strategy that’s already working for them as a publisher. In fact, many users take it for granted that the company will continue to sell wherever there’s a market, especially if Helix isn’t going to be a closed console, but rather a hybrid system between console and PC.

The real focus lies elsewhere. If Steam, Epic, or even other platforms end up having a presence within Helix, then the Xbox Store will need to offer clear advantages to avoid losing weight within its own hardware. This is where ideas like Xbox Play Anywhere come in, as well as potential benefits linked to Game Pass, a more seamless integration with the Xbox library, or even changes to sensitive aspects like paid multiplayer, which typically doesn’t exist as an additional barrier on PC.

• Some also believe that Microsoft could continue to focus on native Xbox versions to get the most out of the system, while others see it as more likely that Helix will allow running PC versions in many cases.

The interesting thing about all this is that Project Helix is no longer being seen as just a new console, but as a machine that could change the relationship between Xbox, PC, and digital stores. And if that’s the case, the real battle won’t just be about the games that can be played, but about where people will want to buy them.