Microsoft explains the technology of the next Xbox: Helix will bet on FSR Next, path tracing and advanced graphics

The GDC technical panel leaves new clues about the hardware and technology that will define the future of Xbox.

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• Xbox prepares the return of backwards compatibility for its 25th anniversary
• Project Helix will maintain backwards compatibility: Microsoft ensures support for four generations of Xbox
• Official: Microsoft reveals more details of Project Helix, the next generation of Xbox at GDC

During the technical panel, Microsoft made it clear that Project Helix will remain a full-fledged Xbox console, not just a pre-configured PC for the living room. The system will be based on a SoC designed in collaboration with AMD, which will integrate CPU and GPU into a single chip optimized specifically for gaming.

The graphics department will be one of the pillars of the system. According to Ronald, the new hardware will feature advanced AMD technologies to manage ray tracing and scaling techniques more efficiently, allowing for improved visual quality and performance.

One of the most important elements will be the integration of FSR Next, the next generation of AMD’s upscaling system. This technology will include significant improvements such as:

• Advanced multiframe generation to increase performance.

• Ray regeneration for ray tracing and path tracing, improving lighting and reflections.

• Deep learning-based texture compression, designed to optimize memory and storage.

• Better integration with DirectStorage and Zstd compression, reducing loading times and optimizing data streaming.

This entire technological package is designed to enable more complex worlds, more realistic lighting, and greater performance stability in next-generation games.

Waiting for 2027

Microsoft also confirmed that the first alpha development tools specific to Project Helix will arrive in 2027, although studios can already start preparing their projects using the current Xbox development kits.

For now, Microsoft has not announced an official release date for the new generation, but everything points to Project Helix being the definitive step towards an ecosystem where Xbox, PC, and streaming function as a single platform for gamers and developers.