Microsoft’s in-houseXboxhandheld console appears to be off the table, as a reputable insider has claimed that the project has been “essentially canceled.” This development comes shortly after the reveal of the ROGXboxAlly, a third-party handheld system developed collaboratively by Asus and Microsoft. However, it seems Xbox’s long-rumored first-party handheld won’t see the light of day due to broader shifts in the gaming giant’s hardware strategy.
While Microsoft hasn’t officially confirmed plans for a proprietary Xbox handheld, a plethora of industry insiders have been reporting on it over the past year. Leaks and rumors suggested thatMicrosoft was working on a dedicated Xbox handheldto complement the company’s next-gen hardware, as well as its cloud gaming and Game Pass services. Unfortunately, recent developments haven’t been all that encouraging for the in-house Xbox handheld.
Just a few weeks ago, reports indicated thatMicrosoft had sidelined development of the Xbox handheldfor now in an effort to divert more resources towards improving Windows 11’s gaming performance. Now, according to a newThe Verge reportpenned by notable Microsoft insider Tom Warren,work on Xbox’s own handheld has been quietly abandoned. Warren alleges that Microsoft is instead doubling down on collaborations with third-party manufacturers like Asus, as evidenced by the ROG Xbox Ally. Both the Asus-made portables utilize a newer, more optimized version of Windows tailored for a console-like experience, and they now appear to be Microsoft’s de facto answer to the handheld market.
Next-Gen Xbox Hardware May Be Sold By Numerous Brands Aside From Microsoft
While this news may incite concerns aboutXbox’s future as a platform holder, Warren has reassured fans that Microsoft still intends to build future hardware. However, this next-gen Xbox hardware won’t necessarily be a traditional console like the Series X. The insider claims that Microsoft will consider multiple devices from PC hardware makers as next-gen Xbox platforms, provided they run Windows. This implies that Microsoft is looking to ditch Xbox’s current locked-platform approach and transform it into a more open, software-first platform.
Warren’s reporting was somewhat reinforced by Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer in a recentepisode of the Xbox Podcast, where he emphasized the brand’s deepening integration with the Windows team. Spencer stated that the collaboration is the “tightest” he’s seen in his 30-year tenure, and that an open platform like a Windows PC can be considered “a game console.” As it stands, one of the key tenets toMicrosoft’s next-gen strategyincludes developing a slimmed-down build of Windows that delivers consistent UI and performance across various third-party devices - essentially turning any PC into an Xbox.
