We knew an Xbox handheld gaming device was in the works. We now know when Microsoft plans to ship it.
First there was the Switch. Then came the Steam Deck. And a little later, the PlayStation Portable.
Now, it looks like 2025 will be the year that Xbox complete the lineup with their own handheld gaming device, according to an exclusive report from Windows Central Executive Editor Jez Corden.
There have been whispers surrounding an announcement some time now, with Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer confirming last year that plans are in place to release an Xbox handheld.
Corden’s reporting is based on months of research and conversations with contacts. They’ve been known to be reliable in the past, so when they put their name to an exclusive, it’s worth paying attention to.
As per the report, Microsoft is currently working with an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to develop an Xbox-branded handheld, with plans in place to bring it to market at some point in 2025.
Supposedly codenamed ‘Keenan’, Corden has been told to expect something “unmistakably Xbox,” and “complete with an official Xbox guide button, and Xbox design sensibilities.” So expect something sleek and stylish, like the Series X|S, rather than avant-garde.
Corden also believes that this Xbox handheld will be capable of running a full Windows OS, with the Microsoft Store and PC Game Pass seamlessly integrated, and third-party launchers like Steam also available on the device.
This latter piece of news won’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s followed Microsoft’s evolution in this area, with many executives, including Phil Spencer, welcoming the idea of a more open and collaborative gaming ecosystem, allowing people to play their games where and how they want.
Next-gen Xbox consoles also being prepared
Aside from the handheld news, Corden also shared an update regarding the state of Xbox’s next-gen consoles.
And despite baseless online claims to the contrary, sources close to Windows Central have indicated that 10th-gen Xbox hardware has been given the green light, all the way up the Microsoft chain to its CEO Satya Nadella.
From the information they have, it appears the next-gen Xbox lineup will include a “premium successor” to the Series X, the aforementioned handheld, and a bunch of new controllers — with direct-to-cloud connectivity.
Both the Series X follow-up and controllers have been penciled in for 2027.
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Source: Windows Central
