Xbox Handheld Dreams on Hold Windows 11 Woes Take Center Stage

The Xbox Handheld Dream: Delayed, Not Dead?

For years, the clamor for a dedicated Xbox handheld has echoed through the gaming community. Many, including our own Sam Rutherford, have envisioned a world where Xbox gaming goes truly portable. And for a while, the stars seemed to be aligning for just such a device.

However, according to a new report, the immediate future of a native Xbox handheld might be a little further off than we hoped. It appears Microsoft is prioritizing a different, but related, strategy: optimizing the Windows 11 experience on existing PC gaming handhelds.

Windows Central, in an exclusive, reports that while Microsoft remains interested in an Xbox handheld, potentially slated for a 2027 release alongside the next-gen Xbox (successor to the Xbox Series X), it isn't the primary focus right now. Jez Corden of Windows Central states that an internally developed handheld, of which he's seen multiple codenames, isn't currently in active development.

Key Takeaways:

• No immediate Xbox Handheld: Don't expect a dedicated Xbox handheld in the near future.
• Windows 11 Optimization: Microsoft is focusing on improving Windows 11 performance on existing handheld PCs.
• Project Kennan Still On Track: The collaboration with ASUS on "Project Kennan" is still targeting a 2025 launch.
• No Layoffs: This strategic shift has not resulted in any layoffs within Microsoft.

This doesn't mean Microsoft is abandoning the handheld market altogether. Far from it. The report emphasizes that Microsoft is actively involved, particularly through partnerships. One such partnership is "Project Kennan", a collaboration with ASUS. This third-party console is still on track for a 2025 release.

Project Kennan is expected to boast significant power, potentially equipped with AMD’s Z2 Extreme chip. Crucially, it will likely ship with a heavily optimized version of Windows 11, tailored for a seamless controller-based experience. This suggests Microsoft is tackling the handheld gaming space by enhancing the software ecosystem rather than solely focusing on proprietary hardware – at least for now.

So, while the dream of a dedicated Xbox handheld might be temporarily on hold, Microsoft is clearly invested in the future of portable gaming. By improving the Windows 11 experience on existing devices and collaborating with partners like ASUS, they're laying the groundwork for a more robust and enjoyable handheld PC gaming landscape. Perhaps, in the long run, this strategic shift will pave the way for an even better Xbox handheld when the time is right.

Tags: Xbox handheld, Microsoft, Gaming, Windows 11, PC gaming, Xbox Series X, Console, Video games, Game console, Handheld console

Source: https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/we-might-not-be-getting-that-handheld-xbox-for-some-time-153844220.html