Microsoft is set to hold a keynote at the Game Developers Conference to shed light on its plans for the future of Xbox, and IGN will be in the room to bring you all the news as it happens.
'Building for the Future with Xbox' will see Jason Ronald (VP, Next Generation, Microsoft Xbox) host a "conversation about the vision shaping the future of Xbox and how we're building a more flexible, connected future for game creators and players everywhere." And IGN will be in the room to deliver a live report on everything pertinent direct from GDC, from 10.10am PT today, March 11.
Microsoft's GDC presence comes after it unveiled Project Helix, the codename for its next-gen Xbox, and a significant shakeup at its gaming business, with former gaming boss Phil Spencer retiring, would-be successor Sarah Bond out, and Asha Sharma drafted in as new Xbox CEO.
Following the news, Seamus Blackley, who co-created Xbox at Microsoft, said that because Xbox is not a core part of Microsoft’s all-encompassing AI push, it was potentially “being sunsetted.” Blackley added that the fact Sharma came over from Microsoft’s AI team with no gaming background was further evidence of the company’s strategy. “They don’t say that, but that’s what’s happening,” Blackley said. “I expect that the new CEO, Asha Sharma, her job is going to be as a palliative care doctor who slides Xbox gently into the night."
But Microsoft boss Satya Nadella countered that concern by last week insisting that Microsoft is “long on gaming” and will always invest in it.
Project Helix will play Xbox and PC games. "Great start to the morning with Team Xbox, where we talked about our commitment to the return of Xbox including Project Helix, the code name for our next generation console," Sharma posted on her X account last week. "Project Helix will lead in performance and play your Xbox and PC games. Looking forward to chatting about this more with partners and studios at my first GDC next week!"
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Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
