Whispers of an Xbox handheld have been circulating for a while, and Asus just added fuel to the fire with a tantalizing teaser on their X (which used to be Twitter) account.
The clip features an animated robot tinkering with its own systems at a terminal. Just as it’s about to upgrade itself, in tumbles a device reminiscent of an ROG Ally X gaming console and an ROG Raikiri Pro controller along with the character. Once the scene clears, the robot morphs into a gaming console, striking a resemblance to Asus’s existing high-end handheld.
What makes things even spicier is the official Xbox account chiming in with that classic side-eye meme. No official announcements have been made, but Microsoft’s cheeky response likely alludes to Project Kennan — an upcoming gaming handheld developed with Asus aiming to merge Xbox and Windows into a single platform.
Though specifics remain under wraps, the teaser hints at exciting prospects for this Xbox handheld. Expect enhancements like extended battery life, superior performance, increased storage, and a fresh design.
Asus unveiled this video on March 31, 2025, at 2 PM EST, a strategic move to separate the teaser from the slew of April Fool’s antics by other tech firms. Unlike the joking atmosphere on April 1, it seems this Xbox console teaser is the real deal, similar to their ROG Ally reveal from a few years back.
What’s worth noting is the proximity of Nintendo’s reveal of the much-anticipated Switch 2 at the April 2 Nintendo Direct. This Asus teaser likely aims to capture some spotlight from Nintendo, stirring excitement among PC gamers and handheld enthusiasts, although it’s unlikely to divert die-hard Nintendo fans.
While we might not see a brand-new Xbox console until 2027, the prospect of an ‘Xbox handheld’ is more than enticing. We’re crossing our fingers that it will run Xbox games directly, rather than just being a Windows 11 device dressed up in Xbox branding.
