The company would also be working on a new series of next-gen consoles slated for a 2027 release.
The company would also be working on a new series of next-gen consoles slated for a 2027 release. Read More Gaming
According to reports, Xbox is preparing a new handheld console in collaboration with well-known manufacturers in the industry. This new hardware would be launched later in 2025 and would run natively on Windows with improvements focused on gameplay. It would also allow the installation of third-party programs such as the Epic Games Store and Steam.
On the other hand, the company would also have given the green light to a new generation of consoles to succeed the Xbox Series X|S. There would be a premium desktop console, but a first-party handheld console would also be in the works, as well as new and different controllers. These projects would be planned with a release window of 2027.
Xbox is Finally Getting in on the Portable Console Market
According to Windows Central, Microsoft is currently working with a PC gaming OEM to launch later this year a new Xbox-branded handheld device. While this device would be primarily developed by a third-party manufacturer, it would feature an “unmistakably Xbox” design, including the iconic Xbox Guide button and other Xbox-branded details. Internally codenamed “Keenan,” this would be the brand’s first official foray into the handheld market.
It is believed that this gaming handheld would emerge as an alternative to other devices currently on the market such as the ASUS ROG Ally, the Lenovo Legion Go or Valve’s famous Steam Deck. One of the points in favor of this new device would be the development of functionality and software improvements, since it would work with native Windows 11, although adapted to portable functions. It may focus on the use of the Microsoft Store, Game Pass, and even cloud gaming options, or even improvements through the use of AI.
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This is not the first time we have heard about the possibility of an Xbox handheld. For several months now there has been a lot of talk about the company’s interest in developing such hardware. One of the strongest hints would have come in mid-2024, when Head of Xbox Phil Spencer stated at a live event that he thought “(Xbox) should have a handheld, too”. He also added that the company is already preparing to unveil device advancements for the future.
In addition to the third-party gaming handheld, Windows Central said the company already has a number of devices approved by CEO Satya Nadella that will arrive in 2027 and will be the next generation to the current one. Primarily, there will be two devices, a premium desktop console successor to the Xbox X|S series and a proprietary Xbox handheld console. These projects may be intended to give strength back to the brand after a decline in sales that has occurred in recent years.
Source: Windows Central
