Xbox handheld could release this year, according to report
The rumored Xbox handheld device could have a release date as early as this year, completely shocking previous rumors that it was years away.
A few hours ago, a report from Windows Central by Jez Corden suggested that an Xbox handheld device could arrive as soon as this year. Long-time Xbox fans have lamented the state of the console giant over the last few years. As Xbox continues to push services like Game Pass, and console sales continue to decline, the future of the Xbox box has been more and more uncertain. According to this new report, a lot could change by the end of 2025 “if plans are met.”
Xbox handheld device could reportedly arrive as soon as this year
This should be treated as a rumor until confirmed by Microsoft, as Corden clarifies in their article: “Consider this a preview of what could come to pass, as we wait for official reveals from Microsoft itself.” Plans change all the time, and since this isn’t an official announcement, this is not a promise. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has talked about a handheld Xbox device in the past, but at the time, the possibility felt like it would be at least a few years in the making. If this report turns out to be true, Nintendo might not be the only one to launch a new handheld gaming device in 2025.
Xbox has been in an interesting position lately. On the one hand, it has been having trouble keeping up with its primary rival: PlayStation. But on the other hand, it has quickly become the largest video game publisher in the world. This shift in strategy, which has seen games like Forza Horizon 5, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Age of Mythology: Retold announce the jump to the rival console, breaks from the norm. In the past, it was common practice for games to remain exclusive to one console to draw players to that hardware. But now, with the breakthrough service Xbox Game Pass and an impressive slate of games set to release this year, Xbox could be in the perfect position to bring in a huge number of players to their ecosystem.
The question of Xbox going the way of Sega has been on people’s minds for years. As console sales flounder, will Xbox pivot to becoming a publisher, leaving the hardware business behind? A recent interview with former Vice President Peter Moore suggested that Xbox would stop making consoles if they had the choice. But this report, along with the potential news of the handheld device, also suggested that Xbox is gearing up for its next generation console, which is reportedly slated for 2027. If this report is accurate, Xbox is not abandoning consoles just yet.
For now, though, the focus is on the handheld device. Not only is it potentially on the horizon, but it would also be the first of its kind. According to Corden’s reporting, this device will be a “partner device” much like how Lenovo works with Valve on the Lenovo Legion Go to run Steam. The device will be “unmistakably ‘Xbox’… complete with an official Xbox guide button, and Xbox design sensibilities.” The theory is that this device will be more PC-oriented rather than a true Xbox portable console. So, the question is, what will make this stand out? The Nintendo Switch of course stands out as a Nintendo console. The Steam Deck is a device designed specifically by Valve. Then there are other handheld competitors like the Legion Go and the ROG Ally. The Xbox branding will help, but will it be enough to set it apart?
Corden suggests that “this device will likely serve, at least in part, as a research experience for Microsoft,” testing various Windows capabilities and overall seeing if there is a market for a handheld Xbox device. It will be interesting to see if Xbox confirms or denies this, and where things go from there. At the very least, even if this does not turn out to be true, we know that Xbox has thought about a handheld device. We may just end up having to be more patient than this report suggests.
