Following last week’s flurry of Xbox news – which included word that new Xbox boss Asha Sharma hasn’t yet ruled out the return of exclusive games – Sharma has been discussing the ongoing RAM crisis, acknowledging that memory shortages could lead to a price bump and limited stock where its next-gen console, Project Helix, is concerned.
During a recent interview with Stephen Totilo’s Game File (hat tip to Game Developer), Sharma was asked if memory shortages would affect the “timeline” of Xbox’s next-generation machine. “Memory costs will impact pricing, will impact availability,” she replied. “As we think about being where the world plays, we will take that into consideration. So we’re not ready to share a launch timeline right now. The world’s pretty dynamic.”
Already, the AI-driven RAM crisis has seen Valve adjust its release window for the new Steam Machine and Steam Frame, while recent reports suggest Sony has also been forced to revise its next-gen plans. Current predictions estimate the memory shortages are likely to continue until late 2027 or early 2028. For now, Sharma is playing things safe, telling Totilo she’s currently focused on “what’s in our control”.
Xbox is going through many changes very fast following Sharma’s arrival. In just the last few weeks, the company has unveiled a new logo and announced a price cut for Game Pass. Whether this new shift will pay off remains to be seen, hopefully sooner rather than later.
