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 beneath), options the corporate’s “little robotic pal” leaping right into a machine with each an ROG Ally X and an ROG Asus Raikiri gamepad to create… effectively, one thing. That mentioned, many individuals (together with me) suppose 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 suppose this can be 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 latest leaks hinting at what Asus and Microsoft are seemingly engaged on.

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

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

Rumors a couple of 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 just a few days later with extra particular data concerning Mission Kennan, a handheld being labored on by Xbox and Asus. Warren says that whereas the rumored system will probably be Home windows 11-powered, it would function an interface just like what you’d discover on the Xbox Collection X/S as a part of an effort to raised unify Xbox and Home windows.

With all of this in thoughts, Asus’ latest X tease is probably going Mission Kennan. It stays unclear if Microsoft’s future handheld efforts may also 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 seemingly is not that far off.

As a giant fan of the ROG Ally X that appreciates the flexibility Home windows 11 gives, however that is additionally usually annoyed by how difficult this makes the system, 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 just a few weeks.

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