Microsoft plans Xbox hardware family and $300M Hollywood IP deal

Microsoft is pursuing two major strategic expansions for its Xbox division: a new hardware ecosystem and a massive media licensing push.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has revealed that the next generation of hardware, codenamed ‘Project Helix’, will consist of a ‘family of devices’ rather than a single console. This approach may include various performance tiers or different hardware forms, potentially following a model similar to the current Series X and Series S. Microsoft is also collaborating with AMD on a multi-year partnership to develop this new portfolio of devices.

Simultaneously, Microsoft is reportedly shopping a licensing bundle of over a dozen major gaming franchises to Hollywood studios. Seeking a deal valued at more than $300 million, the company is pitching intellectual properties including ‘Halo’, ‘The Elder Scrolls’, ‘World of Warcraft’, and ‘Diablo’. The goal is to secure a long-term agreement with a single studio or streaming service to expand these brands into movies and television. Major entities such as Netflix, Paramount, and Universal are reportedly in preliminary discussions regarding the proposal.