Xbox co-creator says Steam looks a lot more interesting than Project Helix

Seamus Blackley, one of the original Xbox co-creators, said he is far more interested in Project Helix and whatever Nintendo does next, but Valve’s storefront still stands out to him in a way Microsoft’s upcoming hardware does not.

In an interview with Expansion Pass, Blackley said he did not yet know what he should be excited about as either a developer or a player when it comes to Project Helix. By contrast, he said he is “vastly more excited about Steam” because Valve keeps its attention on games and the people making them.

That view fits the way Blackley described Valve’s business culture. He praised the company for staying focused on funding games and creators, even if he thinks the rest of the business side can get messy. He also pointed to Gabe Newell’s influence as part of why Valve has stayed committed to that approach.

Steam already has a reputation for leaning hard into games first, from Steam Next Fest to the platform’s steady stream of genre sales and visibility for smaller releases. Valve is also working on the Steam Machine, which puts a PC-style box in the same conversation as console hardware like Project Helix.

Blackley also had kind words for Nintendo, saying its design team still makes things that feel interesting even when they do not land. He used the Wii U as an example, calling it a mess but still “really cool” in its own way.

For now, though, Microsoft has not fully detailed Project Helix. Xbox chief Asha Sharma has only softened the edges around the system so far, and Blackley’s comments suggest the current pitch has not yet given him much reason to look past Steam.

Tell us what you think in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram.