Project Helix could make things easier for game developers

Microsoft confirmed last month that the next generation of Xbox is codenamed Project Helix and that it will be a hybrid system that bridges the gap between PC and console. Since then, there have been a few leaks about the hardware hinting at the performance levels, and now, a known leaker has shared another piece of information that will set this system apart from its predecessors.

While Microsoft has not detailed what hardware will be present in the Project Helix system, it has confirmed collaboration with AMD and that the next generation will bring exponential performance gains over the current one. The latest information comes from leaker KeplerL2 over on the NeoGaf forum and they state that the GPU for Project Helix has zero customization.

For reference, console CPUs and GPUs are customized to fit their particular form factor and use case. While this brings optimizations for gaming, it makes game development more challenging with multiple systems – PC and console – to code for and to port games to. With Project Helix not having a customized GPU, it would theoretically be easier for developers to port their games to the hybrid system.

Does this mean Project Helix will come with a desktop or laptop GPU? Not at all. The system is said to use AMD’s Magnus APU produced on the TSMC N3C or N3P node. This includes a 144 mm² SoC die for the CPU cores, NPU, and main I/O components, fabricated on TSMC’s N3P process. Then there is a 264 mm² GPU die for the GPU logic and an additional memory controller – produced on TSMC’s N3C or N3P node. The GPU is said to include 70 RDNA 5 compute units, with 68 enabled on the final retail configuration.