Microsoft revealed the first specifications of 'Project Helix', the next Xbox

Microsoft unveiled the first technical details of Project Helix, Xbox's next-generation console. The announcement was made during the GDC Festival of Gaming, the international developer fair held in San Francisco

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According to IGN, the device will be a “radical improvement” compared to Xbox Series X and Series S. The new platform will combine advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and next-generation ray tracing

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Project Helix: what the next Xbox will be like The

first details of Project Helix were presented by Jason Ronald, vice president of next generation of Microsoft Xbox, during a talk entitled “Building for

the Future with Xbox”.

The future console will be designed to run Xbox video games and also PC titles. In this way, Microsoft seeks to further integrate its ecosystem between consoles and computers

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As Ronald explained, hardware development kits will begin to be sent to studios in 2027.

The

first technical specifications of Project Helix Microsoft advanced some of the

technologies that the next-generation console will have.

• AMD custom SOC

processor and architecture

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• Architecture developed together with the DirectX team.

Graphical processing oriented to tasks managed by the GPU.

Artificial intelligence applied to performance

The new Xbox will incorporate functions based on machine learning to improve performance and graphic quality

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• Rescaled with artificial intelligence.

• Frame generation using machine learning.

• Texture optimization and advanced compression.

These technologies will improve performance without requiring more hardware power

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New generation of ray tracing

Another new feature is the use of next-generation ray tracing and trajectory tracing. These techniques make it possible to simulate lighting and reflections in a much more realistic way within video games

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The console will also use AMD FSR Next, a rescaling technology that improves resolution using artificial intelligence.

Advanced texture compression and storage

Microsoft also announced improvements in the way games manage graphics data

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• Neural texture compression.

• DirectStorage support.

Use of the Zstd compression algorithm.

These technologies seek to reduce loading times and improve storage efficiency.

Windows 11 will have an “Xbox mode” for gaming

During the presentation, Microsoft also announced news for Windows 11. The company will release an update in April that will include an Xbox mode, designed to improve the PC gaming experience

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As Ronald explained, the goal is to bring to Windows the same sense of simplicity that a console offers.

What improvements will the Xbox System Optimization mode bring

• for video games

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• Better management of hardware resources.

• Integration with Xbox technologies.

Highlighted features include Advanced Shader Delivery, which allows you to download the correct shaders along with the game. This prevents the processor from having to compile them the first time a title is run

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