Xbox Wanted to Include Disc Support In Project Helix as an Advantage Over PlayStation 6

Microsoft hasn't shared much about Project Helix, the company's next-generation console—but unlike Sony, at least its existence has been confirmed, along with some technical specs and hints it could potentially be released as early as next year. Nevertheless, a lot of things remain unknown, and a recent update revealed Xbox once wanted one particular feature to give it an edge over its rival, Sony's PlayStation 6.

According to John Linneman from Digital Foundry, speaking on the latest episode of the DF Direct Q&A podcast, Microsoft originally planned to include a full disc drive in Project Helix. However, that idea got scrapped after internal restructuring at the company. It’s also worth noting that last month Sony officially confirmed the company will stop releasing physical disc games starting in 2028, and Sony CFO Lin Tao reiterated in a recent financial report that they have no plans to reverse that decision, despite negative feedback from users. Windows Central's Jez Corden had also previously claimed Project Helix wouldn't include a disc drive either - apparently similar to the PlayStation 6—although this information has yet to be confirmed.

It looks like the next-gen showdown between PlayStation 6 and Project Helix will come with games only available digitally, which isn't all that surprising. Sony's Q1 FY2026 financial report already showed digital sales making up over 80% of total revenue. Additionally, recent research from S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan predicts PlayStation 6 will significantly outsell Project Helix. The report suggests Sony could sell more than 17 million units of its next-gen console by the end of 2030, while Microsoft's device is projected to hit just over 7 million.

At the moment, neither Microsoft nor Sony has officially announced launch dates for Project Helix and PlayStation 6, respectively. However, according to insider Moore's Law Is Dead, both consoles are expected to launch during the 2027 holiday season. This information should be taken with a grain of salt, as official representatives from both companies have not made any formal statements on the matter.