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Xbox reportedly planning to release its handheld this year, next-generation console due in 2027

by Danny Craig · 3/11/25, 3:37 PM
Xbox reportedly planning to release its handheld this year, next-generation console due in 2027
Microsoft

It has been reported that Xbox is preparing to release its highly anticipated handheld device this year, with plans to release its next-generation console in 2027.

The details:

  • According to a new Windows Central report, Microsoft is currently collaborating with an undisclosed PC gaming OEM to develop its unannounced gaming handheld, internally codenamed "Keenan." It's claimed that the system will be released later this year and will sport a similar design to other Xbox products, including an Xbox guide button, a focus on Game Pass, and the ability to install other storefronts such as Steam, as it will most likely run Windows.

  • Windows Central also suggests that the handheld will also be used for research into Xbox's new technologies, such as Windows 11 features, controlling specific elements of the device via Xbox Game Bar, and a more controller-friendly version of the Windows UI.

  • The report also states that the next generation of Xbox consoles has already been "fully greenlit all the way up to CEO Satya Nadella" and is set to launch in 2027. The next major console release is expected to be a successor to the Series X, with the handheld and new controllers falling under the same generation.

  • According to the report, the new console will be more similar to a Windows PC, making it easier for developers to port their games to the system, and older Xbox titles will continue to be supported through backwards compatibility. Microsoft will also increase its investment in cloud gaming, with the console's new controllers featuring "direct-to-cloud connectivity" that will allow them to be used on other devices more smoothly.

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