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\n\t\tIt\u2019s not the only one but Microsoft is perhaps the most enthusiastic about using generative AI in video games (Microsoft)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tIt\u2019s not the only one but Microsoft is perhaps the most enthusiastic about using generative AI in video games (Microsoft)<\/p>\n
Copilot and other AI tech wasn\u2019t mentioned at all at Xbox<\/a>\u2019s GDC keynote speech about Project Helix and its plans for retro re-releases.<\/p>\n Microsoft held a keynote speech during GDC 2026 (Game Developers Conference) this week, where Jason Ronald, Xbox\u2019s vice president of Next Generation, discussed the company\u2019s next console: Project Helix.<\/p>\n The codename was only unveiled last week<\/a>, along with confirmation that it will essentially be a PC in a console shell, with Ronald expanding on additional details; some of which lend credence to rumours of its release date and pricing<\/a>.<\/p>\n What\u2019s curious, though, is that despite Microsoft\u2019s very public interest in implementing generative AI<\/a> into everything, including its next console<\/a>, Ronald had seemingly nothing to say about the technology.<\/p>\n In his GDC speech, which has been summarised on Xbox Wire<\/a>, Ronald boasts about the AMD tech powering Project Helix, saying, \u2018It delivers an order of magnitude leap in ray tracing performance and capability, integrates intelligence directly into the graphics and compute pipeline, and drives meaningful gains in efficiency, scale, and visual ambition.\u2019<\/p>\n The use of the word \u2018intelligence\u2019 without the word \u2018artificial\u2019 makes that entire line very ambiguous, but he\u2019s likely referring to upscaling technology that uses more mundane AI technology.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tExpert, exclusive gaming analysis\t\t\t<\/p>\n Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter<\/a> for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.<\/p>\n Ronaldo also talked about how \u2018As games increasingly span devices, we\u2019re breaking down the barriers between console and PC games for more seamless cross-device play.\u2019<\/p>\n As such, an Xbox mode for Windows 11 (which debuted on the ROG Xbox Ally<\/a>) will roll out this April, meaning anyone who prefers to play their games on PC can manage and access them with a more console-friendly interface while using a controller.<\/p>\n One detail not mentioned in the Xbox Wire post is that there are also plans to \u2018release some iconic games from the past that are now going to be able to be played in entirely new ways\u2019 (per The Verge\u2019s Tom Warren<\/a>) as part of the Xbox brand\u2019s 25th anniversary this year.<\/p>\n A slide that was shared during the keynote speech features a number of first and third party Xbox games, including original Xbox titles Fuzion Frenzy and Panzer Dragoon Orta.<\/p>\n “As part of our 25th anniversary later this year, [the game preservation team] will release some iconic games from the past that are now going to be able to be played in entirely new ways,” says Jason Ronald \ud83d\udc40<\/p>\n \u2014 Tom Warren (@tomwarren.co.uk)<\/a> 2026-03-11T17:45:53.150Z<\/a><\/p>\n This suggests Microsoft will be doubling down on its backwards compatibility support going forward and potentially make it so older Xbox games can run on PC as well. That would make sense when Project Helix is essentially going to be a gaming PC and should support Xbox owners\u2019 existing libraries.<\/p>\n So, for all the alleged internal grumbling<\/a> made about the \u2018This is an Xbox\u2019 campaign, the core ethos is still alive within Xbox: making Xbox games as widely available as possible through other means besides consoles.<\/p>\n The Xbox Wire summary even highlights the Xbox Play Anywhere system and while it only refers to upcoming releases, it states how \u2018Players should be able to play these games and more across devices, whether through purchases, subscriptions like Xbox Game Pass, or from other leading storefronts.\u2019<\/p>\n That said, the actual tagline appears to have been completely ditched. Not only has the original blog post announcing the \u2018This is an Xbox\u2019 campaign been deleted<\/a>, but photos from GDC taken by The Verge<\/a> show what looks like a new \u2018Build for Xbox\u2019 tagline and Xbox signage that reads, \u2018Simpler, more unified path to reach more players with less effort\u2019 and \u2018Cross-platform is the future of the Xbox ecosystem.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDon’t miss Gaming news! Add us as a Preferred Source\t\t\t<\/p>\n As a loyal GameCentral reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for gaming stories. We have all the latest video games news, reviews, previews, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.<\/p>\n Click the button below and tick\u00a0Metro.co.uk\u00a0to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.<\/p>\n \nAdd us as a Preferred Source<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \t\t So, how do Microsoft\u2019s GenAI plans factor into Project Helix? For as much as the company has hyped up the technology, even proudly showing off how it can be used to make entire games<\/a>, it hasn\u2019t used GDC to explain or promote how it\u2019s being integrated into the new console.<\/p>\n There wasn\u2019t even any mention of the Copilot tool, despite Microsoft rolling out a Copilot for Gaming beta on mobile devices last year<\/a>.<\/p>\n Given that it\u2019s gone so far as to ban the word \u2018Microslop\u2019 in its own Copilot Discord server (per Windows Latest<\/a>), Microsoft is clearly aware of how widely unpopular the technology is. So, perhaps it thought any mention of it at GDC would overshadow or undermine everything else it had to say about Project Helix.<\/p>\n Expecting it to have about faced and ditched its GenAI plans entirely, though, is overly optimistic. It remains a key part of Microsoft\u2019s wider business strategy, not just in games, and Xbox\u2019s new CEO<\/a>, Asha Sharma, joined Microsoft in 2024 after previously being president of CoreAI.<\/p>\n She certainly has more experience with AI than with games, although she has promised that, \u2018We will not chase short-term efficiency or flood our ecosystem with soulless AI slop,\u2019 implying no games made with GenAI will launch under her tenure.<\/p>\n \t\t Email\u00a0gamecentral@metro.co.uk<\/a>, leave a comment below,\u00a0follow us on Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n To submit Inbox letters and Reader\u2019s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our\u00a0Submit Stuff page here<\/a>.<\/p>\n For more stories like this,\u00a0check our Gaming page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"GameCentral](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SEC_278479390-558f.jpg\")
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\n\t\tWill Project Helix turn things around for Xbox? (Microsoft)<\/p>\n
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