Key Takeaways
1. Despite the Steam Deck’s popularity, competitors like Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go have not surpassed its sales, with Valve selling fewer than five million units in three years.
2. Microsoft is set to release its first Xbox-branded handheld, called Project Kennan, in collaboration with Asus, expected later this year.
3. Project Kennan is anticipated to be priced between $499 and $599 and will feature an AMD Ryzen Z2 Go APU, which reportedly offers a weaker gaming experience than the Ryzen Z1 Extreme.
4. The device will primarily function as a Windows PC, meaning that most Xbox games will not be playable on it, which may disappoint potential users.
5. Overall, Project Kennan appears to be just another Windows gaming handheld with performance comparable to existing devices, raising doubts about its market impact given Microsoft’s history with product launches.
An increasing number of companies are trying to take advantage of the Steam Deck’s popularity, even though Valve has sold less than five million units in three years. The Asus ROG Ally and the Lenovo Legion Go (currently $549.99 – refurbished on Amazon) are among the most notable competitors, but their sales still haven’t outdone those of the Steam Deck.
Microsoft’s New Venture
Now, Microsoft is anticipated to release its first Xbox-branded handheld gaming device later this year. Reports from various sources indicate that Microsoft is collaborating with Asus on the development of this device, which Windows Central has confirmed is called Project Kennan, not Project Keenan as previously thought.
Pricing and Performance Insights
According to a fresh report, Xbox Project Kennan is expected to be priced between $499 and $599, featuring an AMD Ryzen Z2 Go APU. When we looked at the Legion Go S, we found out that the Ryzen Z2 Go does not offer a robust gaming experience. In fact, it performs significantly worse than the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, despite being two years younger.
Windows Central also mentions that there will be an additional SKU for Xbox Project Kennan. However, there’s uncertainty whether this pricier option will come with a stronger chipset or just extra memory. Importantly, the website highlights that the device will be “a proof of concept of sorts,” carrying a crucial caveat:
For those expecting Kennan to play Xbox games, it’s disappointing to note that it is fundamentally a Windows PC. This means that most of your Xbox games will not be available on the device.
The Bottom Line
In essence, Xbox Project Kennan is just another Windows gaming handheld, similar to the Legion Go, ROG Ally, and others that have come before it. Alarmingly, it seems that its performance benchmarks are only on par with current-generation handhelds or even less impressive, lacking the power of a Strix Halo APU. Given Microsoft’s history of launching products late and its many failed ventures, it’s hard to see how Xbox Project Kennan will make a significant impact when it debuts later this year.
Source:
Link
Leave a Reply