The primary Xbox handheld was simply formally teased

Asus has teased what could possibly be an Xbox-branded ROG Ally handheld in a mysterious post on X.

The brief clip (which you’ll be able to try under), options the corporate’s “little robotic good friend” leaping right into a machine with each an ROG Ally X and an ROG Asus Raikiri gamepad to create… nicely, one thing. That stated, many individuals (together with me) assume this shrouded handheld is probably going an ROG Ally X with Xbox-branding (unfortuantely, these aren’t Xbox video games on the shelf — all of them have ROG-branding).

By now, you would possibly assume it is a little bit of a attain and, usually, I might agree with you — hear me out, although.

Fortunately, there’s extra to the story. Underneath the clip is a reply from the official Xbox X account that offers the put up a little bit of side-eye with the assistance of a really acquainted meme. There are additionally a number of current leaks hinting at what Asus and Microsoft are probably engaged on.

Is that this the Xbox handheld Microsoft has reportedly been engaged on for years?

It could possibly be, and we probably will not want to attend lengthy to know for positive

Rumors a few devoted Xbox handheld have been swirling for years, however they kicked into overdrive the previous few days. Final week, Windows Central’s Jez Corden outlined Microsoft’s rumored handheld plans, stating that an Xbox handheld will launch later this yr, with next-gen consoles arriving in 2027.

Then The Verge’s Tom Warren backed up this report a number of days later with extra particular data relating to Challenge Kennan, a handheld being labored on by Xbox and Asus. Warren says that whereas the rumored gadget shall be Home windows 11-powered, it’ll characteristic an interface much like what you’d discover on the Xbox Collection X/S as a part of an effort to higher unify Xbox and Home windows.

With all of this in thoughts, Asus’ current X tease is probably going Challenge Kennan. It stays unclear if Microsoft’s future handheld efforts can even embody its personal devoted handheld, or if the corporate’s technique is to forge partnerships with leaders within the area like Asus. It is unclear when Asus and Microsoft will reveal this challenge, but when it is being teased on X, a reveal probably is not that far off.

As an enormous fan of the ROG Ally X that appreciates the flexibility Home windows 11 affords, however that is additionally typically pissed off by how sophisticated this makes the gadget, the prospect of an Xbox overlay that replaces Asus’ Armory Crate SE software program is interesting. If Asus can pull off a Steam Deck-like SteamOS working system that mixes open nature of Home windows with the simplicity of the Swap, I am positively into the idea. The timing of this reveal is attention-grabbing, too, with the Nintendo’s Switch 2’s full reveal looming on the horizon in a number of weeks.

Associated

The ROG Ally X is great, but the Steam Deck OLED easily beats it in 4 key ways

I just like the ROG Ally X, however with regards to on-the-go gaming, I discover myself turning to the Steam Deck OLED – here is why.