Full Next-Gen Xbox Reportedly Set for 2027, Xbox-Branded Gaming Handheld Due Out Later in 2025

A caller study has outlined Microsoft’s video crippled hardware ambition, alleging a afloat next-gen Xbox is acceptable for 2027 and an Xbox-branded gaming handheld is owed retired aboriginal successful 2025.

Windows Central reported connected a spouse PC gaming handheld codenamed Keenan, which is seemingly successful the works for precocious 2025, and a successor to the Xbox Series X and S present “fully” successful accumulation and owed retired successful 2 years.

Microsoft is yet to remark connected the report, nevertheless its gaming executives person spoken publically astir some devices successful vague presumption crossed assorted interviews. In January, Jason Ronald, Microsoft’s VP of ‘Next Generation,’ told The Verge that the institution plans to harvester Xbox and Windows experiences unneurotic for PC gaming handhelds made by archetypal instrumentality manufacturers (OEMs), different known arsenic third-party hardware manufacturers. Existing PC gaming OEMs see Asus, Lenovo, and Razer. Keenan does not subordinate to a first-party Xbox handheld, which Microsoft gaming brag Phil Spencer precocious indicated is years away.

As for the next-gen Xbox, Windows Central said it is afloat greenlit by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. The console is reportedly a premium successor to the Xbox Series X, and this console, alongside a first-party Xbox gaming handheld and caller controllers, are acceptable to circular retired Microsoft’s console offering successful 2027. The suggestion, then, is Microsoft does not program to merchandise a nonstop next-gen successor to the little almighty Xbox Series S. Perhaps Microsoft expects its handheld to inhabit the cheaper, little almighty console space.

Windows Central expects the next-gen Xbox volition beryllium much similar a PC than immoderate Xbox earlier it, and volition enactment third-party storefronts specified arsenic Steam, the Epic Games Store, and GOG. Continued backwards compatibility is simply a given.

Last year, Xbox president Sarah Bond said Microsoft was "moving afloat velocity up connected our adjacent procreation hardware, focused connected delivering the biggest technological leap ever successful a generation."

There is overmuch speculation astir the aboriginal of consoles generally. Xbox Series X and S are floundering successful the ‘console war,’ and Sony has suggested PlayStation 5 is approaching the 2nd fractional of its life. While Nintendo is acceptable to motorboat Switch 2 aboriginal this year, determination is increasing interest that the accepted video crippled console concern could beryllium nether threat.

Spencer has said successful interviews that the console concern has failed to turn meaningfully successful caller years, offering a sizable but static lawsuit basal that is progressively playing a fistful of tremendous games and leaving small country for everything else. Last year, erstwhile Xbox enforcement Peter Moore told IGN that Microsoft would person been discussing whether consoles person a future.

Based connected this latest report, it seems Microsoft has decided they do.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him connected Twitter astatine @wyp100. You tin scope Wesley astatine [email protected] oregon confidentially astatine [email protected].