Xbox handheld could release this year, according to report

by

Recently, a piece from Windows Central by Jez Corden hinted at the possibility of an Xbox portable device making its debut as early as this year. For devoted Xbox enthusiasts, the recent years have been marked by concerns about the future direction of the console titan, given the dwindling sales and the increasing emphasis on services like Game Pass. However, if everything goes according to plan, this new report suggests that the landscape could significantly shift for Xbox by the close of 2025.

Xbox handheld device could reportedly arrive as soon as this year

According to an article by Corden, these rumors of a potential new handheld Xbox device should be viewed as speculation until Microsoft officially confirms it. Since Phil Spencer, Microsoft Gaming CEO, has mentioned the possibility of such a device before, there have been discussions about it. However, since it’s not an official announcement yet, this doesn’t guarantee its release. If these reports prove accurate, then 2025 might see Nintendo competing with another company launching a new handheld gaming device.

Recently, Xbox finds itself in a unique predicament. While it’s been facing challenges in competing with its main competitor, PlayStation, it has simultaneously grown to become the leading video game publisher globally. This strategic change, marked by games like Forza Horizon 5, Indiana Jones: The Great Circle, and Age of Mythology: Retold moving to rival consoles, buckes traditional trends. Historically, games were exclusive to a single console to attract players to that hardware. However, with the innovative service Xbox Game Pass and an impressive lineup of upcoming games this year, Xbox might be poised to attract a massive influx of players to its ecosystem.

For quite some time now, there has been speculation about Xbox following in Sega’s footsteps due to weak console sales. Is it possible that Xbox might shift its focus from hardware production to publishing, and leave the console market behind?

A recent interview with ex-Vice President Peter Moore hinted at the possibility of Xbox ceasing to manufacture consoles if given the option. However, this report, together with rumors of an upcoming handheld device, also indicate that Xbox may be preparing for its next-generation console, which is supposedly coming in 2027. If accurate, it seems that Xbox won’t be leaving the console market just yet.

At the moment, attention is primarily on a new handheld gadget. This device could very well become a reality, marking its debut as the first of its kind. As per Corden’s report, this device will function much like Lenovo’s collaboration with Valve on the Lenovo Legion Go for Steam. This device is set to embody ‘Xbox’ distinctively, featuring an official Xbox guide button and design aesthetics aligned with Xbox. The assumption is that it will lean more towards a PC-oriented gadget rather than a true portable Xbox console. So, the intriguing question arises: What features will make it unique? The Nintendo Switch stands out as a distinctive Nintendo product, while the Steam Deck is Valve’s own design. Other competitors in this space include the Legion Go and ROG Ally. The ‘Xbox’ branding could certainly help, but will it be sufficient to distinguish it from the competition?

As a passionate fan, I’m intrigued by Corden’s notion that “this gadget might partially function as a research project for Microsoft, exploring various Windows functionalities and gauging the potential market for a portable Xbox console.” It would be thrilling to see if Xbox acknowledges or dismisses this speculation, and how things unfold from there. At the very least, it’s clear that Xbox has pondered over a handheld device in the past, so we might need to exercise some patience beyond what this report indicates.

Read More

2025-03-11 01:02