Xbox indie director says Project Helix games will have advantage over Steam PC releases

With Project Helix dev kits set to ship in 2027, Microsoft aims to attract more indie game developers. Steam is the obvious choice to give smaller projects instant exposure. However, Director of ID(Independent Developers)@Xbox, Guy Richards, argues that supporting the new console can drive more sales.

During GDC 2026, Richards sat down with The Game Business to discuss the role of indie devs with Project Helix. There are still unanswered questions about the system, which the executive didn’t address. It’s unclear whether Xbox exclusives will play a role, or if all titles will be Windows-compatible. Nevertheless, developing for PCs will ensure compatibility with the hardware.

If Helix supports Steam and other marketplaces as rumored, studios may continue to work directly with Valve. Not fully invested in Microsoft’s ecosystem, those games would be excluded from the Xbox storefront or app. They also wouldn’t offer cross-platform functionality like Play Anywhere.

Why would indie games skip Steam?

To provide an alternative to Steam, Richards describes a “build once and ship everywhere” approach. At GDC, Microsoft promoted its Game Development Kit (GDK), which expands the reach of published titles. Games would be available not only on PCs and the new Xbox console, but on handhelds and smart TVs as well.

The director explains that “putting your game out across as many different store fronts and platforms increases your opportunities for sales.” Even before the Helix arrives, he notes that more Xbox partners than ever are earning at least $100,000 per project. While insignificant for a large studio, only a small fraction of Steam indie games are that successful.

Microsoft will have a tough time cutting into Valve’s dominance on PCs. The Steam Machine lurks, targeting the same audience that the new Xbox console hopes to entice. Critics think that Play Anywhere actually discourages repeat sales on multiple devices. Some projects may also be a better fit for Steam’s traditional pricing model than a Game Pass subscription.