The primary Xbox handheld was simply formally teas...

Asus has teased what may very well be an Xbox-branded ROG Ally handheld in a mysterious post on X.

The brief clip (which you’ll take a look at beneath), options the corporate’s “little robotic pal” leaping right into a machine with each an ROG Ally X and an ROG Asus Raikiri gamepad to create… nicely, one thing. That mentioned, many individuals (together with me) suppose this shrouded handheld is probably going an ROG Ally X with Xbox-branding (unfortuantely, these aren’t Xbox video games on the shelf — all of them have ROG-branding).

By now, you would possibly suppose it is a little bit of a attain and, usually, I would agree with you — hear me out, although.

Fortunately, there’s extra to the story. Beneath the clip is a reply from the official Xbox X account that provides the publish a little bit of side-eye with the assistance of a really acquainted meme. There are additionally a number of current leaks hinting at what Asus and Microsoft are doubtless engaged on.

Is that this the Xbox handheld Microsoft has reportedly been engaged on for years?

It may very well be, and we doubtless will not want to attend lengthy to know for certain

Rumors a few devoted Xbox handheld have been swirling for years, however they kicked into overdrive the previous few days. Final week, Windows Central’s Jez Corden outlined Microsoft’s rumored handheld plans, stating that an Xbox handheld will launch later this yr, with next-gen consoles arriving in 2027.

Then The Verge’s Tom Warren backed up this report just a few days later with extra particular info concerning Venture Kennan, a handheld being labored on by Xbox and Asus. Warren says that whereas the rumored machine will probably be Home windows 11-powered, it can characteristic an interface just like what you’d discover on the Xbox Collection X/S as a part of an effort to higher unify Xbox and Home windows.

With all of this in thoughts, Asus’ current X tease is probably going Venture Kennan. It stays unclear if Microsoft’s future handheld efforts will even embody its personal devoted handheld, or if the corporate’s technique is to forge partnerships with leaders within the house like Asus. It is unclear when Asus and Microsoft will reveal this venture, but when it is being teased on X, a reveal doubtless is not that far off.

As a giant fan of the ROG Ally X that appreciates the flexibility Home windows 11 presents, however that is additionally typically annoyed by how difficult this makes the machine, the prospect of an Xbox overlay that replaces Asus’ Armory Crate SE software program is interesting. If Asus can pull off a Steam Deck-like SteamOS working system that mixes open nature of Home windows with the simplicity of the Swap, I am positively into the idea. The timing of this reveal is fascinating, too, with the Nintendo’s Switch 2’s full reveal looming on the horizon in just a few weeks.

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