Next-gen Xbox sounds a lot like a PC with an Xbox UI and AMD's next-gen FSR

After sharing the first basic details about its next Xbox console earlier this month, Microsoft has revealed more about the platform's technology this week at the Game Developers Conference. The company confirmed that "Project Helix" will focus on neural rendering, advanced ray tracing, and closer interoperability with Windows PCs.

Microsoft also confirmed that developers will receive alpha versions of the next-generation Xbox hardware in 2027, suggesting the console could launch later that year or sometime in 2028. The company previously stated that the system will support both Xbox and Windows PC games.

Microsoft explained that it co-designed Project Helix with AMD around next-generation versions of Microsoft's DirectX graphics API and AMD's FSR upscaling technology. Upscaling, neural rendering, and other machine learning-driven techniques will become central components of the DirectX rendering pipeline going forward.

Jack Huynh, AMD's VP of graphics, announced FSR Diamond, which will make ML-based ...