According to foreign media Gamerant, recent rumors in the gaming industry suggest that Microsoft may be collaborating with Asus to develop a gaming handheld console centered around the Xbox brand. If the news is true, this will be Microsoft’s first foray into the handheld gaming hardware field, facing competition from Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch.
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Microsoft gaming leader Phil Spencer confirmed the development of the Xbox handheld in November 2024. Early reports at the time stated that the prototype was under development, and Spencer not only had to consider the development of the handheld console itself, but also how Xbox could compete in the crowded handheld gaming market.
A new report from Tom Warren of The Verge suggests that Asus is the company partnering with Xbox, and both it and Microsoft hope to deliver their products to gamers by the end of 2025. However, Warren expressed some doubts about the information he received regarding the release date, which has not yet been officially disclosed in any capacity. Other sources predict that this device may not be released on the market with the new generation of Xbox consoles until 2027.
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According to a new report, the collaboration with Asus will contribute to the unification of Windows and Xbox, as combining the highlights of Xbox and Windows is the main goal of both companies. Through collaboration, these projects will allow for the use of a single user interface and experience platform, which will provide an expanded game catalog that can be played through users’ PCs, handheld devices, and traditional consoles.