Microsoft gaming chief Asha Sharma avoided directly answering a question about the presence of disk drives in next-generation game consoles, as the industry experiences a severe crisis in component costs and is forced to urgently rethink common approaches to hardware availability.
During Gamescom 2026, company executives confirmed the development of a full range of devices codenamed Project Helix. The new generation of games was created to deliver a mix of traditional console versions and established games on PC. The company intends to give players maximum freedom to choose how to purchase and play their favorite items.
The situation is worsened by the company already having to increase the price tag of older hardware due to the sharp increase in RAM prices. At the same time, management remains confident financially and expects to be profitable before the end of the next fiscal year.
These moves come against the backdrop of overall market trends, with rivals such as Sony publicly announcing that they will completely refuse to release physical discs for their games by 2028. Microsoft itself is trying to smooth the transition for viewers by introducing digital rights for boxed edition owners, and is testing the feature among insiders.
