Rumour: Xbox May Be Gearing Up To Reveal Handheld Device In 2025

I'm excited for a handheld Xbox. I hope it has flawless offline capability. I also would like it to have a desktop mode alongside the xbox UI like the steam deck, probably windows based.

Would love a proper Xbox handheld that is native. My Logitech G Cloud is my current handheld Xbox and that’s superb but a native device would be awesome

I personally wouldn't buy a handheld don't see at as being a true successor to the series x at all just another option of Xbox

I've only ever known of two people with the surname, Corden; James and Jez. I find both insufferable.

Hope it's native and quite powerful so can run all the games well ..I will defo get one ...got a ps portal and it's got me playing many games I probably never would have...just nice to lay in bed and be able to play on a handheld

Im concerned that any handheld would be a downgrade on the series x. Being battery powered is a big limitation.
In that respect Id almost rather see a remote device like the ps portal so we can have series x power on a handheld.. I might even be able to pursuade my wife to play xbox with one of them!

“In the palm of your hand” scares me a little bit. I certainly don’t want it to be something small like a phone type of device but a proper handheld with a fair screensize.

Great news. I really hope they tie it to current gen games, sort of like a portable Series S. I think it would be big mistake to launch it alongside next xbox and force devs to release games on both - i had enough series s drama.
Also i wish for it to be more like portable xbox vs portable pc like rog ally and such. Maybe they can just adapt it to work with all games of curent gen and then for next gen its up to devs

Yes!!! I so desperately want to keep supporting Xbox and a handheld would be the way to do it.
Branch the Xbox into two forms. Series X for the console, Series S (with a dock) for the handheld. No one would blame Series S for having lower specs because they are literally built for a different audience and gameplay format.

Oh please oh please oh please!

@Ricky-Spanish I understand why many would want a handheld Xbox. But I agree I won’t ever see one as a successor to the Xbox series X. Personally I hope that Microsoft always makes a strong classic Xbox for those of us that want it. I just prefer to play my entire physical Xbox library this way.

If they'd release a meaty Xbox native handheld with access to the majority of the OG Xbox/Xbox 360 titles (and newer ofc) I'd be a happy camper. So many titles I've skipped over the years I'd love to play.

If it's some clodbased tech I'm out. 😬

If Microsoft had executed the Series S alternative well I might be hyped for this, but I don't feel they did so I'm pretty skeptical.

An Xbox handheld will be both exciting and extremely popular. A kind of evolution of Series S, now that the mobile specifications can be boosted significantly.

Unless it also docks so I can play it on the tv, not interested. I have less than no interest in hunching over a portable, squinting at blurry compromised visuals on a tiny screen, wondering when the battery will give out.

I’m not a child with a long bus ride to school. I’m not a Japanese businessman with a 2hr commute on the Shinkansen. When I’m at a rooftop soirée like in the commercials, I’m socializing not troll’d up in a secluded corner hissing at any girls that get too close. When I’m at a vacation resort, I’m enjoying the vacation and not letting the world pass me by as I’m hunkered over the handheld. When I’m on the john, I’m taking a dump—I’m not glued to a screen.

Unless you’re a kid or in prison or something, games should be played on HFR monitors paired to the best pc your money can buy, or else from the comfort of your cushy armchair with the controller in your hands and a big OLED in front of you.

Sign me up! I've dreamed of this since the 360 days. xCloud is something I've utilized a ton. Love the ability to play away from home so easily. At this time I'm not even considering new hardware in the near future. I'm satisfied with what I'm getting out of my Xbox Series. But this would be a no brainer for me to pick up day one.

@Sol76 I wouldn't read too much into that, as he probably meant to say hands. I also wouldn't read too much into it, as he's an utter melt.

@Balaam_ what was the last handheld you played on? A Game Boy Micro? 🤣

Have a series X and have no need for a handheld device. So will be something I'll be skipping.

Same time as switch 2 perhaps?

Absolutely could be wrong and time will tell. But really think a lot of people (including Microsoft) are overestimating the desire, want, need, or market for Xbox handheld. Honestly, handheld in general. People use their phone.

But if Microsoft makes an Xbox console like how Nintendo Switch works, docked and handheld, that's where the interest would be heck of lot more.

No interest in a handheld, but cool if they get it right. If the handheld is going to release at the same time as the NeXtBoX, then the rumours put that at 2026, and Microsoft typically release their new consoles in November. With the Xbox One, the console was first revealed to the public in May of 2013 before releasing that November. With the Series consoles, they were first revealed to the public almost a full year prior to its release at the Game Awards in 2019.

So, with all that in mind, if the two consoles are to be released at the same time, the likelihood is that they will not get a full reveal until Summer 2025, most likely at the Xbox Showcase because to properly reveal both consoles will likely take more time than the Game Awards would probably afford Microsoft...

My ps portal completely changed my ps5 use, currently i use remote play on my steamdeck for xbox.

Its really not a good solution, but its bettee than none. Really hoping msft does one of two things.

1. Makes a stream only device that displays in 1080p or higher.
2. Makes a portable series s level device compatible with all current games. (And a 1080p screen) Hopefully keeping it lighter than the very heavy steamdeck.

@GuyinPA75 Id disagree. I have a backbone and a dedicated phone that i wound up boxing up in the attic because i just dont like gaming on a phone. Could just be me, but as a 40 something with a good amount of disposable income but not a lot of time, handhelds have become my only real outlet. I have all the consoles, but playtime is probably 5 to 1 or higher in favor of non phone portable options.

I just got a Steam Deck in Sept and I love that thing, so amazing to have that kind of power in the palm of your hands. I’d still jump at an Xbox Handheld asap as well as Switch 2 (if it’s bc) asap. I’ve been a handheld lover since the original Gameboy, and truly fell in love with handheld gaming during GBA era and that love continued into DS, 3DS, Wii U, Switch and now Steam Deck.

To say I’m excited for the future of handhelds is an understatement! Truly haven’t been this excited for gaming since probably the 360 or even the n64

Looking forward to my Zune360HD

Im curious but I’d need to see specs/price and so on.

I ended up getting a ROG Ally X and that has largely dashed my need for an Xbox handheld. I have been thoroughly enjoying it. Unless the Xbox handheld has the ability to play PC games too, it feels like it will be an inferior product to the Steam Deck, Ally, Lenovo Go, etc, which are very versatile, although not super user friendly.

Don't get me wrong, I want Microsoft to succeed because it keeps things competitive, that benefits all gamers. I'm looking forward to see what they have to offer when it's announced and shown!

@Banjo- this falls right in line with the rumors, 2025 handheld and 2026-2027 new Home console Xbox. I am excited for it. Even tho i love my Series X. I believe we will see the Ui for the Handheld to also be the Ui for the home console. So the systems are a match and that is exciting, tho please no Ad’s. The free cloud saves will really shine here going from device to device. Buy one game and get the Xbox, Xbox handheld and PC version which no other company can match at the moment. This is starting to shape up to be really good stuff.

@HonestHick Right! Microsoft has the OS, the cloud saves since Xbox 360 that still work and the biggest cloud infrastructure, so they head for an Xbox multiplatform future. I have no doubt about it. It will be their key to consolidate their gaming business (even more LOL). What they started with Xbox One, Play Anywhere, and continued with Xbox Cloud. PC, console, hybrid console, mobile devices and TVs. Native gaming and cloud gaming.

@Divide_and_Wander Even if it is inferior (and most likely it will be) the Xbox Handheld can still be a success if it is priced super competitively. At that point it's only real rival is the Switch, which would be super interesting to see them go at it.

I love the idea. I love my Rog ally paired with my series x. Can remote play, can play pc or console game pass, with play anywhere titles can seemlessly switch between tv and portable. I can play where I want when I want which is what Xbox is already great at. And can play games from whatever storefront I want with price competition.

It’d make way more sense for them to just optimise their games for Steam Deck and do some promotional stuff with Valve - no R&D for something else that’s probably going to flop.

@SilentBluntman and make Game Pass useable through Steam, like EA does with EA Play.

We need a hybrid system alas Nintendo Switch but more powerful sporting at least Native 4K in Dock Mode and Native 1080p in handheld mode but both running at a steady 60fps

I still think they could do something with their 'Windows' OS - especially for Handheld Gaming PC's. Have an Xbox Layer that can be switched to specifically for playing 'Xbox' versions and/or optimising its OS for gaming.

With a great UI and User settings - to enable frame rate locking for example - any Handheld PC could be a Xbox, just like SteamDeck can be a Windows Handheld PC with Game Pass - although its not 'Optimised' for gaming.

I'd love to be able to boot up my RoG Ally in Xbox mode for example and it 'feel' like a Handheld Xbox not a PC -but the compromise is its likely to be limited to 'Xbox' settings (whilst PC allows you to change settings) if it runs the Xbox version.

I think if they aim for 'SteamDeck' in Price point, then maybe it will sell - but if they aim for PC Handhelds - like RoG Ally, then maybe they should make a Surface Handheld gaming PC and have their 'Xbox' UI - like Asus, MSI and Lenovo have their gaming interface but Maybe MS could have an 'Xbox' boot mode so you can switch between PC and Xbox OS for their 'Xbox' Handheld that runs Xbox Versions. Switch to PC mode and you have Steam and Epic stores and their games too - if you want...

@Balaam_ I got a chuckle out of this, so thanks!

And I'm in a similar spot, where there's not much need for handheld gaming in my life. If I have time to play, I probably also have a bigger screen and a proper controller handy.

A handheld that plays my existing PC (or maybe Xbox) library is more tempting than a dedicated system like a 3DS or Switch, since I know I could just jump into a game for a few minutes here and there, and then pick it back up on a proper setup once I'm at home. But there hasn't yet been quite enough reason to justify even that.

I dont think i want one. The only handheld for me is the switch. For xbox i want them to STAY in the console war, but do a better job with it. With gamepass they are doing a great job.
There are just to many handheld pc devices already.
I am doubting tho, because of how far the handheld pcs have come.
What is the best one so far?

This has been rumoured for ages so I'll believe it when I see it. Will it actually happen? I don't know as they were going to do a set top cloud console, but scrapped that, and I can see them scrapping this too.

@The-Chosen-one It wouldn't mean that Xbox is leaving the console market because it wouldn't make sense and they have stated that they won't. If they release a handheld, it would be another option to play the same games you'd play on the home console. A hybrid device with enough power inside the dock could also be a possibility. One of the existing handhelds has an option for extra power when docked.

Regarding your question about the current handhelds, check this:

https://www.purexbox.com/forums/px_other_gaming/gaming_handhelds

another pointless article quoting that Jez clown... this is getting like Switch 2 speculation, people will keep saying it's coming until they are right haha

They better do it fast because switch 2 will eat any other handheld alive... Also it would be better if the xbox handheld is the next gen series s not one more console of this generation...

@Banjo-

Oeh! Thanks for that!!
And you are right, i will just wait what team xbox is cooking.

It will be announced Early 2025, on the Xbox Direct.

I see an Xbox handheld. Plays lower spec games or games at lower res/ features, similar to series s. With cloud capabilities as well obviously. But no PC integration. You will need to subscribe to go ultimate to fully enjoy it. They won't let you get away with PC gp only. Also having it locked to Xbox might make them be able to sell it at a loss to make it up in game pass subs. This will be a portable Xbox. But... Let's say it is a full Xbox complete with dev mode. This opens up to a wider audience. Portable series s with dev mode, emulators and all the wonderful stuff. As a competitor to the switch. That would enough to make it a success.

@Millionski Well, you have YTbers gassing people up on some fantasies for months now. "Next-gen handheld with Xbox OS for $300 that plays Steam games and native Xbox games!" Any deviation will result in the standard internet bellyaching.

@theduckofdeath yeah those same people say the switch 2 will have the power of a series s. But it won't. I know people love the click bait. I do too. But after years of waiting for switch pro. 8k gaming on consoles and everything else promised. I know what to expect now. Portable series s locked to Xbox is the best we can hope for. I don't even think it will be that. I hope it will. But it will more likely be a portable Xbox one x. To compete with switch 2.

Seems futile considering their current hardware sales, but it will be interesting to see. I wonder if it'll be a custom PC or an actual console dashboard

@Real_game_passion From the PC angle, it is more likely that MS improve the Windows experience for portables. So, ASUS RoG and similar devices would benefit. I'm doubtful that MS wants to make a device that competes with those existing Windows devices.

WHy not just remote play to your phone or tablet? I do my tablet every morning at work and on my lunch breaks

It would be great for XB1, 360 and OG XBOX era games. But there’s a lot that doesn’t come to Switch due to the power limitations and Xbox doesn’t have the first party games to make up for the third party games that won’t play on handheld.

I really don't have any desire for a handheld Xbox at all. I just want a Xbox on my TV which has plenty of celebrated indie and couch coop games. I don't have that right now.

Needs to be at least Series S class performance which is not currently possible to achieve at 5-10W with today’s technology. So it will be a few more years at least. Unless it is actually a handheld PC, which presents a new major problem that the majority of games won’t be compatible between the ‘Xbox’ handheld and actual Xbox consoles (yes Play Anywhere exists but the majority of 3rd party titles do not partake).

@Cakefish 5 to 10 watts is a bit too power starved

The Steam Deck is 15w by default, and I think 25w is a reasonable cap for a powerful handheld, as long as it has a big enough battery, and good cooling.

Even the Rog Ally X can't quite match the SeriesS performance it's true, even at 25w+. But it's close enough that I would expect a new APU to come out within a year or two that can match/beat the SeriesS performance at 25w or less.

If Microsoft are eager to join the handheld market next year, yeah it's unlikely they'll produce something with SeriesS performance given the currently available tech, especially factoring in cost.

But I'd expect the SteamDeck 2 to have SeriesS beating performance in a couple of years perhaps.