Asus Making Xbox-Branded Handheld
The info comes from The Verge’s Tom Warren, who mentioned in a brand new report revealed Wednesday that Microsoft’s plans for its gaming division for 2025 and past have been focussed on combining Windows and Xbox experiences. Citing sources aware of the matter, the report claimed that the hand held system deliberate for later this yr could be a part of the corporate’s bigger push to carry collectively Windows and Xbox for a unversal library of PC and console video games.
The handheld is reportedly being manufactured by Asus, the Taiwanese PC maker that has its personal line of Windows-based gaming handhelds, the Asus ROG Ally. The system is internally referred to as “Project Kennan” and never “Project Keenan” because the Windows Central report had claimed earlier this week.
The Xbox-branded Asus handheld will possible launch later this yr, the report mentioned. It will run on Windows however will include a modified interface that appears loads like what you will discover on an Xbox console. The platform to unify Xbox and Windows experiences is reportedly codenamed Project Bayside, which can basically carry Xbox interface to Windows-based gadgets.
The thought, in response to the report, is to get Xbox video games engaged on different gadgets and providing a single PC and Xbox video games storefront and library that may work for number of gadgets — Xbox consoles, Windows PC and handhelds.
The Asus ROG Ally X seen at Computex 2024
Project Kennan Details
Windows Central corroborated The Verge’s new report, claiming that the accomplice handheld was certainly being manufactured by Asus and was codenamed “Project Kennan”. According to the publication, the system will really feel loads just like the ROG Ally however with design conventions of an Xbox system, with “extra outstanding grips and a devoted Xbox guide-style button”.
As the system will probably be Windows-based, gamers will be capable to run different recreation strorefronts and launchers like Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, the EA app, Ubisoft Plus and others, the report mentioned. Additionally, the bottom mannequin Xbox-branded Asus handheld may very well be priced between $499 and $599 (roughly between Rs. 43,400 and Rs. 52,000) and will are available two totally different SKUs. Finally, the system may very well be revealed this summer time earlier than it is launched later this yr, the report mentioned.
Neither Microsoft nor Asus have introduced their plans for an Xbox-branded gaming handheld but. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer, nonetheless, has expressed curiosity in an Xbox handheld and has mentioned the expectation was for the corporate to carry its personal handheld system to market.
In an interview with Bloomberg in November 2024, the Xbox chief had mentioned the corporate was engaged on prototypes for a tool in that kind issue. Spencer mentioned he had requested his group to develop its imaginative and prescient for the system primarily based on its learnings from the market. However, he believed an Xbox handheld was a “few years out”.
