An Xbox handheld has been a dream of many Xbox gamers for over a decade, and Microsoft has now confirmed that the company is considering making one. When you think about an Xbox handheld, you probably think about a proper handheld with Xbox branding that is made by Microsoft and plays your Xbox console games. Technically, devices like this already exist through handheld gaming PCs like the ASUS ROG Ally X.
While this isn’t a true Xbox handheld, it can play Xbox games. The difference is you have to play them through the Windows Xbox app. Then again, these are full Windows PCs. So you can use them like any other computer. A proper Xbox handheld would likely have a closed, dedicated operating system and user interface more akin to the Xbox Series X|S. And to many that would no doubt be an appealing prospect.
Take the Steam Deck for example. While it is a gaming PC, the UI is so clean and more like you would find on a console. It translates well to a handheld. This is where Microsoft has an opportunity to create something that plays Xbox games natively. An Xbox in a shrunk-down form if you will.
An Xbox gaming handheld is only being considered right now
Microsoft may have confirmed its plans for an Xbox handheld, but it’s only being considered at the moment. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer admitted in an interview with Bloomberg (via Engadget) that the company is mulling over the idea. However, it isn’t necessarily in active development right now. Spencer did state that he likes the idea of the ASUS ROG Ally X, Lenovo Legion Go, and Steam Deck. And that an Xbox handheld would have to play games locally if the company was going to make one.
Although this isn’t as exciting as hearing it’s well into development, it’s a step ahead of where things were earlier this year. A rumor from late March said the company had multiple prototypes in the works. So it’s not clear how much further along things are right now. The main takeaway though is that things have now moved from being just a rumor to a confirmation from the head of Xbox.
New hardware is “years away”
As cool as an Xbox handheld might sound, any hardware that could turn into a finished product is “years away” Spencer says. That probably means that if it were to make it to market, an Xbox handheld wouldn’t be available until at least 2027 or 2028. Things can always change, of course. Microsoft could ramp things up next year and a handheld release time may shift if that were to happen. But at the very least, it sounds like Microsoft is confident that an Xbox handheld isn’t coming anytime soon.
Spencer also stated that the Xbox team’s current focus in this space is to improve the Xbox app. This already works well on handhelds, but it could be better and Spencer aims to make that a reality.
