The distinction between console and PC has becoming increasingly blurred, with Microsoft's upcoming Project Helix next-gen console - set to be detailed later today - straddling the divide almost perfectly. But if you had to choose, is Project Helix a PC? Or a console?

It is, of course, a question of semantics, so let's drill down into what makes something a PC versus a console. Historically, consoles were defined by their bespoke architectures and custom silicon, but the PS5 and Xbox Series consoles already use the same x86 backing as modern PCs. Similarly, while most gaming PCs separate the graphics card and processor as separate components, many laptops and handheld PCs already use a unified architecture that combines CPU and GPU into a single chipset with a shared memory pool.

There's still something of an efficiency advantage from having both hardware and software tailor-made to run game code, but I think it's fair to say that it's harder to point to a specific hardware feature set to distinguish a PC from a console these days.

Is Xbox Project Helix a console or a PC?

A more fitting modern definition might be one of software freedom. While PCs can run a huge amount of gaming and non-gaming software from a variety of store fronts, consoles by nature are more curated experiences which can only run software that has been vetted (to some degree) by the platform holder. It's possible to install your own UWP apps on Xbox Series consoles, while PS3 and now PS5 can install Linux, but that doesn't really detract from the reality that Sony and Microsoft have a huge amount of say in the software that runs on their machines. The official, supported experience is installing apps from disc or a single official store, whereas the PC is designed from the outset to run arbitrary code without restriction (or at least, with mild impediments).

The role of the operating system is also central to the nature of PC. Though the Xbox Series consoles run a variant of the Windows kernel, it's still significantly more specialised than even the stripped-down Xbox mode designed for Windows 11 gaming handhelds. The original Xbox needed that efficiency to make the available hardware more viable for gaming than equivalent PCs of the era, and that has continued (to some extent) into the modern day - though it's clear that modern consoles, especially with their SSDs and faster CPUs, are much more capable of running as general purpose computers than their predecessors.

Looking at the Steam Deck and ROG Xbox Ally X can be instructive, as these devices are designed to hit both bases - they're general-purpose PCs that can run any software you like (I wrote up some long articles on a Steam Deck hooked up to a mechanical keyboard on an airplane once), while simultaneously giving plug-and-play access to a range of games from the Steam and Xbox stores respectively.

Ultimately, the difference for many users often comes down to the presentation of the user interface and the level of curation provided by the platform holder.

Beyond this, unrestricted access to hardware and file systems feels like the biggest single indicator of whether something is a PC or a console. Consoles typically lock files away in proprietary encrypted formats to prevent piracy and cheating. If the Project Helix allows full access to those files, whether directly on the device or via external storage, that sounds like a PC to me. Of course, whether we'll see that is another question!

It's worth remembering as well why Microsoft is treading this path in the first place. Embracing a more open, PC-like design with Project Helix is the company's way of finding an advantage against a presumptively traditional PS6 console. By moving away from the traditional closed-box console model - and potentially offering features like chipset licensing or a hybrid software library - the plan is to carve out a unique space in the market that is distinct from that of Nintendo or Sony. Ultimately, the question isn't whether Project Helix a PC or a console - it'll be whether or not that space-straddling design is successful in its aims.

We're set to learn more about Project Helix in a live stream later today, so stay tuned to Digital Foundry for analysis and reaction to whatever is shown.