Buzz has been building around the possibility of an Xbox handheld device for some time, and a recent teaser from Asus on social media has only added fuel to the fire.
On their X account (you might remember it as Twitter), Asus shared a captivating little video clip. In it, a plucky animated robot is seen fine-tuning some programming on a terminal, clearly ready to push for an upgrade. Just at the moment of implementation, a device resembling the ROG Ally X gaming console and an ROG Raikiri Pro controller dramatically crashes into the scene. As the dust settles, the robot intriguingly morphs into a gaming console that bears a striking resemblance to Asus’s top-tier handheld.
What makes this post even juicier is the response it garnered from the official Xbox account—a cheeky side-eye meme. Although there’s nothing official from Microsoft just yet, many believe their playful response points to the much-rumored Project Kennan. This project, in collaboration with Asus, aims to harmonize Xbox and Windows into a singular gaming platform.
While both Asus and Xbox are keeping their cards close to their chests about the details, the video does offer some tantalizing hints. Expect improved battery life, enhanced performance capabilities, expanded storage space, and a sleek new design for this anticipated Xbox handheld.
Asus dropped this intriguing teaser at 2 p.m. EST on March 31, 2025, likely to sidestep any April Fool’s confusion—a smart move given the tech industry’s penchant for pranks around this time. The buzz around this unveiling feels very real, reminiscent of Asus’s ROG Ally debut back on April 1 a few years ago.
In related news, there’s word that Nintendo will announce the highly awaited Switch 2 during their Nintendo Direct on April 2. With the Asus tease arriving just in time, it seems like a strategic move to grab the spotlight and possibly stir up excitement among PC and handheld gaming fans. But as much as it may rattle some folks, Nintendo die-hards are likely to remain unmoved.
Though we’re not anticipating the next Xbox console until 2027, the idea of an ‘Xbox handheld’ is certainly exciting. Here’s hoping it can play Xbox games directly rather than functioning as a mere Windows 11 device with an Xbox-themed overlay.