Xbox-Branded Handheld Teased by ASUS

Gaming hardware institution ASUS has pulled backmost the curtain astatine what whitethorn beryllium the reported Xbox-branded handheld device.

The ASUS Republic of Gamers X/Twitter relationship shared a teaser showing its "little robot person cooking thing up," offering a little glimpse astatine some a Republic of Gamers (ROG) Xbox controller and handheld system.

Last month, IGN reported connected Microsoft’s video crippled hardware ambition, which allegedly includes a afloat next-gen Xbox for 2027 and an Xbox-branded gaming handheld that whitethorn motorboat aboriginal successful 2025.

That's not our lone clue, either. The handheld shown successful ASUS's teaser intelligibly shows disconnected buttons configured for Xbox (Y, B, A, and X, alternatively than PlayStation's triangle, circle, cross, and square, oregon Nintendo's X, A, B, and Y). There's besides a D-pad, 2 thumbsticks, and 4 smaller further buttons, though it's beauteous hard to marque those retired clearly.

Perhaps astir interestingly of all, though, the authoritative Xbox relationship acknowledged the tweet with a cheeky wide-eyed gif, suggesting this is each mounting up a reveal.

pic.twitter.com/ONZpeEmNka

Unfortunately, that's each we have. There's nary day connected the uncover yet, fto unsocial a factual motorboat window, but the show the small robot is moving connected states "Marathon stamina, much capacity, faster speeds" and "fresh look!" giving america an thought of what the handheld's unsocial selling points whitethorn be.

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.

While this Xbox-branded gaming handheld is not a Microsoft-made console, the institution is reportedly readying to yet motorboat 1 of its ain successful 2027, perchance alongside its next-gen Xbox. Microsoft gaming brag Phil Spencer precocious indicated a first-party Xbox handheld is years away.

Speaking of which, the successor to the Xbox Series X is present allegedly "fully" successful accumulation and owed retired successful 2 years, tying successful with Xbox president Sarah Bond's caller comments that Microsoft was "moving afloat velocity up connected our adjacent procreation hardware, focused connected delivering the biggest technological leap ever successful a generation."

For immoderate clip now, there's been overmuch speculation astir the aboriginal of consoles, with Netflix's President of Games, Alain Tascan, precocious stating that helium expects a aboriginal procreation that relies little connected gaming consoles contempt large players similar Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo pushing guardant with caller hardware. The latter's highly anticipated Switch 2 instrumentality volition beryllium showcased successful a Nintendo Direct connected April 2, with galore fans expecting to perceive much astir what features the Switch 2 brings to the table, its merchandise date, and however pre-orders volition beryllium managed.

Vikki Blake is simply a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She's besides a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her astatine BlueSky.