Only way it sells well is if they convince tons of people to pay a lot of money for a Xbox/PC combo system where someone needing to buy new gear will kill two birds with one stone.
This is kinda ignorant tbh. On a self-built PC you have full control over looks, form factor and noise, that's one of the main upsides to build it yourself.
Must be in the same room with the modern audience.
Yeah, thats the wet dream of these techcorps. You own nothing and will be happy! Depends how many morons will follow that route. But I see already lots of people running into that trap.
Sorry but you're not the target audience if you have a 500+ digital game library on PlayStation.
Of course i would, in a heartbeat, the PS Catalogue will still be tied to my account, id simply move the Playstation to the other room and the NextBox would become my main console. I would argue i am the target audience for this, there aren't enough Xbox Fans who would be willing to pay over the odds for this thing especially considering how Microsoft has completely abandoned exclusivity and i doubt you would capture many from the PC market seeing has how bloody snobbish they are about their pink neon fans plus they get Xbox games the same day, so they need to target as many people as they can to make this thing viable AND get it out to market before PS6 i.e. people like me with a PS5 who have the digital libraries and want to get into PC gaming without all the hassle of PC Gaming... and yes PC Masterrace, i dont give a shit what you say, gaming on PC is a fucking ballache in comparison to how consoles work
Most people could probably buy their entire Xbox library for less than 50 bucks on Steam.
Helix is literally for anyone who's ever wanted a gaming‑first PC in their living room. The Xbox library is just a bonus for people who can or want to tap into it. The real magic is what happens the moment you have Steam running on a powerful, turnkey living‑room box, suddenly the whole ecosystem opens up. That benefits everyone, including PlayStation players.
The issue is that this dedicated Xbox base mostly doesn't want to pay over 2x XSX launch price for it. Half that audience are running XSS even which was around $250 at some points.
Fixed spec sucks though. Half the point of PC is being able to upgrade when needed vs having to buy a whole new setup.
Half of Series owners are on S anyway. Who seriously believes anyone of them is going to touch a device 4 times as expensive?
Well, you got 3-4 mil potential audience from Xbox and maybe couple more "Xbox curious" PC gamers. So the entire addressable audience is going to be around 5-6 mil, IMO.
If you're not feeling like you're leaving your PS library behind then what's the problem?
Why is your gaming PC on a thick carpet!? Come on, get a low stand at least.I already have a PC. It doesn't have "tacky tubes", wasn't cheap, neither super expensive (i7+RTX5070).
Xbox launcher isn't something that would be enough to convince people. The brand itself seems half-dead and only appears to a long time hardcore fans.
I'm sad this is all I use mine for lol. 5090 hooked to a lg G5 with a controller and play night / big picture mode
you targeted me
I already have a PC. It doesn't have "tacky tubes", wasn't cheap, neither super expensive (i7+RTX5070).
Xbox launcher isn't something that would be enough to convince people. The brand itself seems half-dead and only appears to a long time hardcore fans.
I agree with you, but at the same time you'd be surprised how stupid people are out there. Based on my experience, I would safely bet that the majority of people who complain about Windows are just utterly incompetent at basic computer knowledge and upkeep. I've seen some shit man.
Hey I resent RGB lighting being called tacky! *looks at my PC*…… don't worry my baby…..K dash wasn't talkin bout you
Why is your gaming PC on a thick carpet!? Come on, get a low stand at least.
But otherwise I agree
Bad enough having to hide 1 console let alone two
Hey I resent RGB lighting being called tacky! *looks at my PC*…… don't worry my baby…..K dash wasn't talkin bout you
One thing that repeatedly comes up with discussion of Xbox Magnus - now Helix (who knows what it will eventually be branded) - is 'who is this for?'
We have to get over the mental hurdle that video games are toys, and that they are for youth. I think there is a new market untapped within video gaming, and it's older gamers.
Those like myself who grew up in the early days of gaming and are now in their forties and fifties, and have a level of affluence where spending £1k on a beloved hobby isn't a big deal. Whether that be a golfing holiday, a fishing trip, collectables, a season ticket to sports, a wine collection, or a premium gaming console.
This more affluent consumer is a home-owner and likely already owns a PC, but that PC is in their study next to an upright office chair, and it's mentally-connected to work rather than play. Plus the sight of a 'gamer PC' covered in neon lights and tubes, targeted at edgy teenagers, is not something this consumer wants to own, nor do they want the headache of configuring graphics settings.
They want something more like the form factor of a high end stereo component, that will go alongside their large TV in a nicely decorated lounge and will work out the box. Knowing that it is the most high performance console, and is 'reassuringly expensive' (as a different ad campaign once used as its slogan) makes it aspirational and exclusive. These are plus points not negatives. If I was Microsoft this is the marketing strategy I would lean into.
There hasn't been a 'premium' console since the NeoGeo in the early 90s (inflation adjusted it was $1,500), which did alright, but when that came out this older more affluent demographic of gamer didn't exist. I saw a post by Ice-T yesterday talking about playing Resident Evil Requiem, he's 68 years old. If Microsoft are smart enough to market Project Helix at this new demographic of older affluent gamers I believe they will sell a decent amount (and the younger gamers might even tag along too if they believe it to be an aspirational luxury brand). My two cents worth. What think you?
Edit: And below is a pic of Xbox recent marketing. Look at the ages they are targeting. All I'm suggesting is that a route to success for this new console could be to go older, whether or not they have the will or foresight to change ingrained marketing strategy could be doubtful, just offering my thoughts.
Doing it all in a tiny case is difficult.
