Microsoft isn’t launching its Xbox handheld this year, but Asus might be

Mar 13, 2025 12:00 AM - 11 months ago 431454

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer warned successful November that the mythical Xbox handheld is simply a fewer years distant and only astatine the prototype shape correct now. But if you publication the headlines this week, you mightiness deliberation it’s really arriving later this year.

A caller report from Windows Central claims that “Xbox’s caller hardware plans statesman pinch a gaming handheld group for later this year, pinch afloat next-gen consoles targeting 2027” and that Microsoft is moving connected a “Project Keenan” handheld successful business pinch an unnamed OEM. The study has generated plentifulness of headlines astir an Xbox handheld arriving successful 2025, but the reality is simply a small much analyzable and related to Microsoft’s Xbox level activity to compete pinch SteamOS.

Sources acquainted pinch Microsoft’s plans show maine the company’s Xbox level plans for this twelvemonth and beyond are centered connected 1 large goal: the unification of Windows and Xbox. Jason Ronald, VP of Xbox gaming devices and ecosystem, revealed to The Verge successful January that the institution is combining “the champion of Xbox and Windows together” and that we’d commencement to spot changes later successful 2025.

I understand the Xbox activity that has deed the headlines this week is really called Project Kennan, not Keenan. I’m told that Kennan is the codename for a handheld that is being manufactured by Asus, and it’s portion of a larger effort from Microsoft to unify Windows and Xbox towards a cosmopolitan room of Xbox and PC games.

I’m told that Asus is 1 of the motorboat partners for these efforts, pinch an Xbox-branded handheld apt to debut later this year. I opportunity apt because a batch of this level activity is still ongoing, truthful until Microsoft officially announces it, timelines could change.

The instrumentality itself will beryllium powered by Windows underneath but pinch an interface that much intimately resembles what you’d find connected an Xbox. I wouldn’t beryllium amazed if Microsoft has immoderate benignant of certified hardware programme here, truthful that only approved third-party devices tin tally “the champion of Xbox and Windows.”

Some of this level activity is codenamed Project Bayside, portion of an Xbox UX model that is designed to guarantee there’s a communal Xbox UI crossed aggregate devices to thief harvester Windows and Xbox. Together, Kennan and Bayside correspond immoderate of the activity that Ronald was hinting at, opening up the benefits of Xbox to the broader Windows ecosystem.

Microsoft is besides moving connected combining Windows and Xbox successful a measurement wherever there’s a azygous shop of games and an easier way for crippled developers to build titles that span crossed handhelds, console-like hardware, and PC gaming rigs.

The large mobility is whether each of these level changes will unlock the expertise to play Xbox games connected these caller handheld gaming PCs. Microsoft has a batch of acquisition moving emulators to get original Xbox and Xbox 360 games moving connected the Xbox One and Xbox Series S / X, truthful if anyone tin bring Xbox games to PC, it’s Microsoft.

Community efforts to get Xbox One games moving connected PC are making coagulated progress, pinch XWineOne and WinDurango some moving connected layers to construe Xbox API calls to Windows ones. It’s akin to immoderate of the activity Valve has done pinch Proton to get Windows games moving connected Linux.

Most of the organization advancement pinch Xbox One games moving connected PC has been acknowledgment to a kernel exploit for Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles that was uncovered past year. This exploit, which was really a flaw successful Windows, was patched quickly by Microsoft, but it was excessively precocious to extremity enthusiasts dumping Xbox One games to get a amended knowing of really they’re different from their PC versions.

While we hold to spot if the organization tin travel up pinch a afloat solution to tally Xbox games connected Windows, it looks for illustration Microsoft is moving connected thing similar. Xbox president Sarah Bond created a caller squad focused connected crippled preservation and guardant compatibility successful early 2024, which suggests that Microsoft is moving done the licensing hurdles to someway sphere existing Xbox integer libraries for this cosmopolitan room of Xbox and PC games.

It’s reasonable to presume that these Xbox level changes will style the early of Xbox consoles, too. I wrote past month that “I don’t deliberation Microsoft is embarking connected specified a large task without these handheld-focused level changes being the instauration for immoderate Xbox hardware comes next.”

Windows Central reports that Microsoft is moving connected a “premium successor” to the Xbox Series X alongside its ain Xbox handheld that is tentatively slated for merchandise successful 2027. I’m afloat expecting Microsoft’s adjacent Xbox console to beryllium a batch much PC-like, truthful the Kennan and Bayside projects will apt springiness america an early look astatine really the next-gen Xbox will return style connected the package side, astatine least.

These Xbox level changes could besides thief fend disconnected the threat of SteamOS. I wrote past twelvemonth that Microsoft is now successful a handheld gaming PC race, pinch Valve allowing instrumentality makers to connection SteamOS connected their handhelds alternatively of Windows. Microsoft has been slow to respond to the Steam Deck, peculiarly astir improving the Windows acquisition connected handhelds for illustration Asus’ ROG Ally. Valve opening up SteamOS last summer and past Lenovo introducing its ain SteamOS-powered handheld successful January will person sounded the alarms wrong Microsoft, because if 1 Windows OEM has already been tempted by SteamOS past what’s stopping much of them from switching?

This is peculiarly applicable beyond the emerging marketplace of handhelds, too. Valve is now successful a acold amended position to make its console-like Steam Machines a reality, acknowledgment to the occurrence of the Steam Deck and its Proton work. If OEMs get comfortable pinch SteamOS connected their handhelds, the adjacent logical measurement is simply a request for SteamOS connected thing much for illustration a miniature PC aliases crippled console.

Microsoft is already struggling to compete pinch Sony’s PlayStation hardware sales, but if its next-gen Xbox level is capable to tally connected much PC-like hardware, it could compete a batch much closely. It would besides make those “this is an Xbox” ads make a batch much sense.

There are a batch of ifs, buts, and maybes here. Ultimately, it’s the execution from Microsoft that will beryllium important. I’ve already laid retired really I deliberation Microsoft tin turn Windows PCs into an Xbox, and each that is near is to perceive from Microsoft connected precisely really it will merge the champion bits of Windows and Xbox.

Microsoft is holding a 50th day and Copilot arena successful April. The special event will beryllium held connected April 4th and will see “leaders of past and present” and immoderate Copilot news presented by Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman. I’ll beryllium attending this arena successful Redmond, Washington, adjacent month, truthful look retired for a typical Notepad covering Microsoft’s 50th day celebrations.
Copilot gets a press-to-talk hotkey connected Windows. Microsoft is rolling retired a caller measurement to summon Copilot successful Windows for sound interactions. The Copilot for Windows app now has a keyboard shortcut that lets you clasp the Alt and Spacebar keys for 2 seconds to commencement chatting pinch Copilot, overmuch for illustration you utilized to beryllium capable to do pinch Cortana. Windows Insiders get early entree to this caller feature, up of a broader rollout to Windows 11 users successful the coming weeks.
Microsoft is replacing Remote Desktop pinch its caller Windows app. Microsoft is ending support of its Remote Desktop app for Windows connected May 27th. Not to beryllium confused pinch the abstracted Remote Desktop Connection app, the Remote Desktop app is utilized to link to Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, and Microsoft Dev Box machines. If you link to immoderate of those devices, past you’ll request to move complete to the caller Windows app. The different Remote Desktop Connection app will proceed to beryllium successful Windows, and Microsoft says it tin still beryllium utilized to link to machines until Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is supported successful the Windows app.
Forza Horizon 5 will require a Microsoft relationship connected PS5. You’ll request to nexus a Microsoft relationship to your PlayStation Network relationship successful bid to play Forza Horizon 5 connected PS5 adjacent month. It’s not each that astonishing fixed the online elements of the game, but it’s disappointing that you won’t beryllium capable to sync saves betwixt the Xbox and PS5 versions of the game.
Last week’s Xbox Alpha update reset consoles. Xbox testers woke up to a uncommon bug pinch the latest Alpha aliases Alpha Skip-Ahead builds past week, which reset consoles to default mill settings. The only point that really sewage wiped retired was settings, arsenic connected my ain affected console I still had each my games installed aft I group up the Xbox again. Still, it’s a bully reminder not to tally early Alpha package connected your main Xbox console.
A Windows 11 update is making USB printers people gibberish. It’s ne'er a dull time successful Windows update land, and Microsoft revealed this week that 1 of its caller Windows 11 updates has been making definite printers unexpectedly people random matter and data, “including web commands and different characters.” There’s a measurement to rotation backmost the alteration done Group Policy changes for IT admins, and Microsoft is moving connected a early Windows update to hole the problem fully.
Microsoft Edge connected Android is getting six caller extensions. Edge Canary builds connected Android now person entree to a full of 22 extensions for the browser, acknowledgment to immoderate caller additions. Windows watcher Leopeva64 discovered a personification supplier switcher, the Bitwarden password manager, and a page show hold among six caller additions successful Edge Canary for Android.
Microsoft reportedly is dropping immoderate CoreWeave services up of a $35 cardinal IPO. Microsoft has reportedly walked distant from immoderate contracts pinch unreality computing supplier CoreWeave up of its first nationalist offering (IPO) adjacent month. The Financial Times reports that CoreWeave provides Microsoft pinch computing capacity to thief it standard AI models and that the business is “worth billions of dollars to CoreWeave.” Microsoft has reportedly withdrawn immoderate agreements pinch CoreWeave owed to “delivery issues and missed deadlines.” CoreWeave downplayed the report, noting that “all of our contractual relationships proceed arsenic planned — thing has been canceled, and nary 1 has walked distant from their commitments.”
Copilot is now integrated into GroupMe. Microsoft mightiness beryllium sidesplitting disconnected Skype successful May, but GroupMe — which was erstwhile portion of Skype — will unrecorded on. GroupMe is now getting Copilot integration, truthful that the AI adjunct will thief constitute responses successful the messaging app aliases build playlists.

Are you willing successful a mixed Windows and Xbox handheld? Drop a remark here, aliases you tin ever scope maine astatine [email protected] if you want to talk the Xbox AI changes successful much detail. If you’ve heard astir immoderate of Microsoft’s concealed projects, you tin besides scope maine via email astatine [email protected] aliases speak to maine confidentially connected the Signal messaging app, wherever I’m tomwarren.01. I’m besides tomwarren connected Telegram, if you’d for illustration to chat there.

Thanks for subscribing to Notepad.