New rumours about Microsoft’s subsequent gen plans means that there can be two Xbox handheld consoles and the primary is aiming for a 2025 launch.
For many, the thought of a subsequent gen Xbox being launched within the subsequent 12 months or two appears far too quickly. And but that’s precisely what’s been rumoured for a while now, together with from a supply this week who claimed that the brand new console would principally be a PC in ‘a TV pleasant shell’.
Microsoft themselves have confirmed that they’re engaged on a subsequent gen console, in order that’s not beneath debate, however they’ve additionally mentioned that they’re making some sort of handheld Xbox gadget that could be a ‘few years out’.
The earlier hearsay didn’t contact on that however now the identical supply has claimed that slightly than being far off, the brand new transportable gadget is due out this 12 months and won’t be made by Microsoft themselves.
According to a Windows Central report by editor Jez Corden, the unexpectedly early launch is as a result of the hand held is not going to be made by Microsoft however by a 3rd celebration. He doesn’t know who, however identify drops Asus, Lenovo, MSI, Razer as potential companions.
He describes the gadget as being Xbox branded and at present codenamed Keenan. It will apparently be ‘unmistakably Xbox’, with a information button much like the present controller and ‘Xbox design sensibilities.’
Corden additionally means that the hand held will ‘seemingly’ run full Windows, with fast entry to the Microsoft Store and PC Game Pass, in addition to the choice to put in Steam.
In different phrases – similar to Corden’s rumours concerning the residence console – it’s principally a PC in a (handheld) field and seemingly similar to Steam Deck and its rivals.
Although Corden has confirmed to have strong contacts at Microsoft up to now it’s not fully clear how a lot of his report is insider information and the way a lot is concept. However, he says that Keenan will ‘seemingly’ be a ‘analysis expertise’ for Microsoft, partially to check Windows 11 gadget conscious capabilities, to scale back third celebration bloatware.
Given how typically Xbox boss Phil Spencer has talked about his love for handheld PC gaming units none of that is arduous to consider, with solely the 2025 launch date being an actual shock.
However, current information revealed that the marketplace for such portables is way smaller than many assume, with the Steam Deck solely having bought round 4 million items and its rivals far lower than that.
As such, it’s arduous to think about the brand new Xbox handheld making a lot of an influence, particularly if it’s bought at an identical worth and comes out inside months of the hotly anticipated (and more likely to be significantly cheaper) Nintendo Switch 2.
Corden provides that the following gen residence console Xbox can be a ‘premium successor’ to the Xbox Series X and can be launched alongside ‘its personal Xbox gaming handheld’ and a number of other new controllers.
These new consoles will supposedly be launched in 2027, so paradoxically 2026 stands out as the solely 12 months that doesn’t find yourself seeing a brand new console launch.
Even assuming the rumours are appropriate although, plans do change, particularly at Microsoft, and the report notes that the third celebration Xbox gadget will solely be launched this 12 months, ‘if plans are met’.
Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, depart a remark under, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our publication.
To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features extra simply, with out the necessity to ship an electronic mail, simply use our Submit Stuff web page right here.
For extra tales like this, examine our Gaming web page.
MORE: Secrets of Halo Infinite’s deserted 10-year plan revealed by new leak
MORE: Unofficial Disco Elysium 2 lands a Grammy nominated music composer
MORE: Solid Snake is again in Death Stranding 2 however not as you keep in mind him
