Key Takeaways
1. NBC’s Today show toured a hidden Xbox lab, revealing potential new hardware developments, including a sneak peek of a possible new handheld Xbox.
2. Phil Spencer’s private office showcased keepsakes from old prototypes and hinted at unknown features of future devices.
3. Industry experts confirm that Microsoft is interested in developing a portable gaming system, with a focus on a handheld device inspired by the ROG Ally.
4. The upcoming Xbox handheld, referred to as Project Kennan, is expected to run on Windows and may involve collaboration with Asus.
5. Microsoft plans to launch a new Xbox console by 2027, possibly as a handheld or mini PC, with speculation that they may have moved past the showcased prototype.
NBC’s Today show was able to go on a special tour of a hidden Xbox lab where Microsoft tests out its hardware. Most of what was shown was not surprising. However, towards the end of the video, the focus shifted to Phil Spencer’s private office, who’s the CEO of Microsoft Gaming. In this room, Spencer has keepsakes from old prototypes and teases some unknown features. At one moment, viewers got a sneak peek of what could possibly be a new handheld Xbox in the works.
A Glimpse of the Future
Sadly, the segment only showed the right side of this potential new Xbox console. Nevertheless, everything around in the room is related to Xbox, making it unlikely to be a device from another brand. The design itself isn’t groundbreaking, featuring a typical face button layout. What stands out are the two small buttons located just beneath the right analog stick. These controls do not correspond with any current handheld devices, including the Asus ROG Ally.
Insights from Industry Experts
In a 2024 episode of The Xbox Two podcast, Jez Corden from Windows Central talked about various Xbox prototypes that exist. One of the images shared at that time displayed a console that looked similar to the handheld spotted in the Xbox lab. Both Corden and Spencer have confirmed that Microsoft is interested in developing a portable gaming system. Additionally, NBC’s report mentioned that the next generation of Xbox is currently being developed.
Speculations and Expectations
Some industry insiders believe that the upcoming Xbox handheld will take inspiration from the well-liked ROG Ally. Known as Project Kennan, this device is anticipated to run on Windows. Microsoft is likely to collaborate with Asus for this console, which might come with a full-screen Xbox interface and control setup. Recently, Asus hinted at a white device on social media that appeared to be closer in design to the ROG Ally rather than Spencer’s prototype.
Other rumors indicate that Microsoft has plans to launch a new Xbox console by 2027, potentially in the form of a handheld or mini PC. It’s also possible that Xbox has already moved past the version showcased in the tour, but there’s a chance it could make a comeback later on.
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