Rumors have been swirling about the possibility of an Xbox handheld device, and Asus has certainly fueled the speculation with a recent teaser on its X account, which, for those of you keeping up, used to be known as Twitter.
The teaser video is quite intriguing. It starts with an animated robot tinkering away at a terminal, making improvements for itself. Just as it’s about to action these upgrades, a gadget resembling an ROG Ally X gaming console and an ROG Raikiri Pro controller drops into the scene, seemingly transforming the robot into a gaming console that has an uncanny resemblance to Asus’s existing top-tier handheld.
The buzz surrounding this teaser amplified even further when the official Xbox account chimed in with a playful side-eye meme. While there’s still no formal announcement, this cheeky interaction seems to hint at Project Kennan. This project is rumored to be a collaboration between Microsoft and Asus aimed at creating a gaming handheld that merges Xbox and Windows into a unified platform.
Though specifics remain scarce, the video hints at what we might anticipate from this upcoming Xbox handheld. Expect improvements like longer battery life, enhanced performance, and increased storage capacity. Plus, it looks like it’s going to have a fresh design makeover.
Asus strategically released the teaser at 2 pm EST on March 31, 2025. The timing wasn’t a coincidence; the reveal avoided being mistaken for an April Fool’s joke amid the typical tech-company pranks. Much like their genuine April 1 ROG Ally reveal a few years back, this new Xbox console teaser seems authentic.
What adds another layer of intrigue is the timing concerning Nintendo. With the eagerly awaited Switch 2 announcement slated for April 2 at Nintendo Direct, Asus’s move might be an attempt to capture some of the spotlight. While the reveal didn’t flood us with details, it undeniably created a buzz among PC and handheld gaming fans. That said, the loyal Nintendo crowd likely remains unswayed.
While a new Xbox console isn’t on the horizon until 2027, the prospect of an ‘Xbox handheld’ entering the scene is exciting. Fingers crossed, it will run Xbox games natively and not just function as a device with a Windows 11 system sporting an Xbox-themed interface.
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