According to one of the most renowned Xbox insiders and industry experts, Microsoft has by no means shelved the idea of an Xbox handheld. A prototype of a native Xbox handheld is said to be in a testing phase.
When it comes to the topics of Microsoft and Xbox, Jez Corden is naturally a good source. He is considered one of the most well-informed insiders in this area, is generally considered reliable and his statements therefore carry a lot of weight. In this respect, what he now says in the new edition of Xbox Two Podcast
According to Corden, Microsoft is actually working on a new, native Xbox handheld. There had already been rumors about a portable Xbox a few months ago, but these were initially debunked around the business update on the company’s new multiplatform strategy. However, a handheld device doesn’t seem to be completely off the table.
On the podcast, Corden said: “I know that currently [Xbox] Have handheld prototypes.” He later spoke explicitly about “new prototypes”, i.e. new handheld considerations instead of the earlier rumors about corresponding prototypes, which have since been brushed off. However, Corden also emphasizes: Such prototypes do not necessarily have to result in a product , which is actually coming onto the market. But: Microsoft is still (or again) intensively thinking about the idea of an Xbox handheld.
If you believe the insider, then the new prototypes are explicitly not a cloud handheld, but a “completely native Xbox handheld” that should be able to play games independently. It is therefore possible that Microsoft is preparing to compete directly with the Nintendo Switch or its successor or wants to secure market share against the PC handheld competition from Steam Deck or ROG Ally.
Separate from the handheld rumors, it is certain that Microsoft is developing a next-gen console that will follow the Xbox Series X/S. Phil Spencer personally promised during the business update that it would be “unique and powerful”. There have also recently been increasing signs that a revision of the Xbox Series X will be available for purchase in 2024.
We will of course keep you up to date on further developments surrounding a possible Xbox handheld!
