Rumour: Microsoft Is Apparently Prototyping Xbox Handheld Hardware

Please Microsoft, just try to learn from PlayStation's (Portal) mistakes.

It can be a good way to sell an Xbox to the Ps audience who doesn’t want a second home console but could be interested in a handheld.

I love handhelds but they don't really fit my lifestyle. On the go I don't always have the internet needed so I usually opt for a book instead. My switch, steam deck and ROG Ally all get played docked more often than handheld.

I would totally buy an xbox handheld but probably not use it correctly lol.

@Krydle I'm guessing it's part of the 2026 next gen. Rumor was it will be the lower end console of next gen, essentially replacing series S. Then a beefy home console would be the other model.

Are they going to have separate/modified games for this? After trying to cloud play many games, I can say most text/UI is too small for a mobile screen.

I feel like the only way this works if the existing library of xbox games is available through the store. If that were the case, I know I'd be interested if all my existing games worked with it right out of the box. It'll probably be digital games only though.

I'm definitely interested in the product. If I can play gamepass games locally without a need for a network connection I'm definitely down.

@jolteon23 you can use xCloud on Steam Deck. Even Forza and Gears feel good, if you have decent Internet connection.

@Bl4ckb100d

Considering the massive success of the Portal, MS SHOULD learn from it.

Hope this is a real handheld instead of just streaming from your console like the PS Portal. I can already do that on my phone.

I'll most likely pass on this, Microsoft's games are all on PC so having a Steam Deck makes this utterly redundant for me.

My only need for gaming is at home, so unless it's like the portal and gives me full range games from my machine in my hand, then it wont appeal to me. I also buy all my PC games on steam, so it would need to be extremely good to be more worth than Steam deck...
However, its an interesting development, and I look forward to seeing what it can offer even if I suspect it won't be for me.

remember this same Jez clown spouted utter lies and make believe recently with the xbox porting everything and going third party fantasy? why do you give him press coverage!

After falling in love with the Steam Deck, and PS Portal, I'd buy this in a heartbeat.

It makes it a lot of fun to be able to play anywhere, or enjoy it bigscreen.

For the love of pete, DON'T USE SONYS BATTERY SUPPLIER!!

Not gonna lie, a handheld has no place in my life if it isn't a convertible like the Switch is.

I bought an ASUS ROG Ally so I had a portable Xbox Game Pass machine that plays them all natively. It works immaculately, worth every penny.

I very rarely use it docked, purely portable.

I hope this is true and Microsoft release a handheld. As a native GamePass handheld machine it would be an automatic purchase for me, with the gigantic caveat that it gives a wide berth to the PSportal as inspiration....please look at Valve.

Day one purchase. I've been eyeballing the ROG Ally as a GP machine but decided to wait for the previewed annoucnement of new hardware later this year.

I'll buy this day 1 if it runs my console games collection natively, as suggested.

If it does have access to gamepass and doesn’t work like a portal but more like a steamdeck, it’s an instant buy for me. And I’ll probably never buy another game ever again (besides the occasional Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest and Nintendo games)

If they going with dual SKUs again for next-gen, Xbox should go Switch way but with proper external GPU dock for additional horsepower. 3nm Zen 5 based APU with console level optimization should lead to very good battery life.

This way, Next-gen Xbox has lower barrier of entry if you buy just the Xbox (has included basic dock for charging and outputting to external display). Or, definitive next-gen Xbox experience by buying the external GPU dock either bundled with the console together or buy it later separately. The console has major added value for those who want to play portably and for those who prefer classic experience, they won't lose anything.

Hopefully it won't have to depend on Series s or x to play? Make it a standalone handheld and I'll buy

I would get one if it's a real handheld that played all Xbox games native...and not like the pointless ps portal

@InterceptorAlpha this. The novelty of gaming in the go has very little opportunity in my life.

I think I’ve used a switch on a plane once or twice but it’s just not as comfortable as gaming with a big telly.

I would definitely love an Xbox portable device as long as its games are played locally and my saves could be synced through the cloud.

I would love it to be a dedicated handheld device but i can imagine they will go the cloud subscription route which will show me that they want that fully integrated across the board in the future leading me and others to not invest into their eco-system/API.

Sorry i just had to.

Honestly portable game pass would be really awesome, moreso if I could play the games I own through the Microsoft store as well.

If MS get a handheld right it could be a game changer. They will be entering the market at a time where they have a fair amount of competitors to draw inspiration from and mistakes to learn from as well. They may be on to a winner if they can combine Steamdeck’s user friendliness with the Ally/LegionGo’s adaptability, all wrapped up in a more powerful but affordable package. It is quite a risky move though. No guarantee it will sell well outside the hardcore fans and it would need to be pretty special to tempt people into trading in their current handhelds. Interesting times!

Depending on how things play out, I would be interested. Honestly, I'll decide based on what next Nintendo thing is, but I'm planning on only a single handheld device and Xbox GP machine could be it.

I would purchase immediately if it was a standalone handheld that simply lets you play the games you have purchased. Not too much to ask

It should natively play Xbox 360 discs with a blade UI, but also stream backwards compat xbox360 games and GamePass games with their modern UI.

@johnK Yea, that will be wonderful idea. Further dilute the Xbox market? Bad idea.

Especially if they try to have same game run on everything. That works out sooooooo well with Series S. So Xbox will have a system out there even weaker than the S.

I can see this failing incredibly bad.

What seems every game always needs to be connected online to play. What's point of hand held anymore? If out and about, can't play it. If home - - you can play it. So why not just play on dang TV then. Unless it's going to be like switch and can dock it, it is going to fail really hard. Very few people going to use a Xbox hand held for it to be considered a success.

@GuyinPA75
I think the Series S is a 7/10 device. It is a great idea but I think the execution of its specs was a bit off. But you have to remember that it is the first such console ever. I like that they are giving gamers different entry prices to consoles. They just could've did a better job making sure the specs were up to snuff in the right places. I would love to see another Series S next generation now that they have experience with having a multi-tiered console entry point.

As for mobile vs console UIs I don't think that is all that hard to deal with. Games already adjust to different screen resolutions, so mobile is mostly an exercise in adjusting to a smaller screen resolution.

Would like to see such a device. Switch is my most used console, even at home, since I can play on the couch while others use the TV.

Having this as an option would presumably allow an even lower cost Series S home console, to differentiate between the Series X more.

@endlessleep I think you nailed it with that, that is exactly what they should do and how they should do it. I think that is truly the future. I have another idea. I really like the size of the screen on gaming laptops like 16". I wish they would come out with a portable system that is meant to be table top or even in your lap. Like how yoga laptops do. Where it can be in laptop mode, flip it over in tablet mode or put it in tent mode so it stands up by itself. If they could do something like that without it being a laptop and basically look the same. Just make the lower half the hardware just like a laptop but have no keyboard. Then you use your Xbox controller. For audio, either use internal speakers, headset connected to the controller or maybe they could have Bluetooth and/or Xbox wireless built in. I think that form factor would sell just as well as a handheld device.

There are several directions they could go but let's hope they learned from Steam's 1st gen mistakes. A fully portable would need a significant battery, so let's hope that's a given in the design. (The irony of the previous rumors regarding the Surface team being reassigned to Xbox isn't lost on me.)

I'm truly curious to see how far they are willing to go. A portable with docking could technically eat into console sales. That being said, MS is already pushing past the idea of needing consoles so could also be a moot point. With MS also working on making game libraries available for streaming as well as GP games, it could also forgo the need for fastest chips, which would save on battery and costs. The console could offer the best options but a portable would be an ok compromise for many.

I have a Steam OLED with access to GP, but Im only half there in relation to game access. An Xbox portable with access to Steam would truly be the best of both worlds IMO.

An Xbox “Steam deck” would be a day one for me.

@Bl4ckb100d The PlayStation portal is actually amazing. It's an extension of the PS5, you can pick up where you left off exactly from your console and back. Want to keep playing in the bed, on the couch upstairs, in your bedroom, on your balcony, in your yard, next to someone what using the TV, you can!

Now I'm a Dad and I live in a full house, not a small apartment. For me it's the best console accessory and I how the Microsoft handheld supports similar local network remote play functionality.

Now here's the best part of it with. It's a full size controller with the same features and comfort as the real PS5 controller. And that's why I play it more than my switch or deck. Also the screen is big and clear.

So I really hope Microsoft learns from the portal honestly. A portal that also plays native games would be supreme.

@Monochrome321 You can already do all of that on Xbox with any phone, tablet, laptop or desktop and some TVs I think.

A lot of the rumor are saying a native device, so no relying on the cloud and console. MS need to make this a Xbox OS device, not a Windows PC. We don't windows hogging system resources and having to put up with its terrible sleep/hibernation. MS funding and partnerships with hardware manufacturers will allow them to get the handheld into an affordable price range something the Asus and lenovo can't really do. Plus it will probably be available in more stores unlike the Steam Deck which is still limited to Steam...

Microsoft needs to bring back the tiles for the start menu so that the interface is easy to use, for these devices

It will prob be a clunky piece of junk. Are you all enjoying your microsoft smart phones? 😂😂😂

I would want a hybrid like the switch. Issue is that means a graphics compromise so that it isn’t a lava brick. Which negates why I buy xbox. So until they can make a hybrid with a graphics standard and good battery life, I will pass. I think that is in the cards but not now.

@Doomcrow I loved my Microsoft smartphones.

They just seem a bit late to the game tbh. Beyond the switch, there are already a number of competitors in the portable device market (moreso than console).
I considered buying a portable device for a while until I finally pulled the trigger on a steam deck. The reason I went with the deck is because I wanted access to the steam library (which includes Xbox games). A number of the games on my wishlist are pc exclusive so an Xbox handheld just feels redundant to me personally regardless of specs.
I hope it's a great piece of kit for those who want it, I just feel they've somewhat missed the boat again.

Also the biggest market for gaming on the go is Asia and xbox barely have a footprint there at all. Maybe this might help but I doubt it

It seems that finally Vert will get a CPU candidate in the Neptunia series.