Microsoft’s Phil Spencer Teases Xbox Handheld; Prototypes in Development

Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft's gaming division, hinted at GDC 2024 about developing an Xbox handheld console to expand gaming accessibility. Despite multiple prototypes in the works, a launch isn’t expected soon.

Phil Spencer Teases Xbox Handheld Future, Signals New Directions in Gaming Mobility

According to Wccftech, rumors of an Xbox handheld console have circulated for over a decade. There was, after all, the so-called Xboy project, pushed internally by several groups within Microsoft's Xbox Leadership Team. However, it never took off under the leadership of former Microsoft Xbox chief Robbie Bach.

Phil Spencer now leads Microsoft's gaming division, and the executive appears more excited than ever about an Xbox handheld. Speaking to Polygon at GDC 2024, he mused:

"What should we build, that will find new players, that will allow people to play at times when they couldn't go play?"

It is an apparent reference to an Xbox handheld. After all, the Nintendo Switch is the third best-selling console of all time, and the market for PC handhelds expanded dramatically following the release of the Steam Deck.

Spencer is a fan of those PC handhelds but believes there is room for improvement in a few areas.

"I like the fact that Valve, Lenovo, and Asus went out and innovated in a new form factor. And I will say that when I'm playing on those devices, it almost feels more like a console than a PC — nine times out of 10. The things that usually frustrate me are more Windows-based than device-based. Which is an area I feel some ownership of. Like, I want to be able to log in with a controller. I've got my list of things we should go do."

The interview comes after Windows Central's Jez Corden revealed a few days ago that multiple Xbox handheld prototypes are currently in development. However, the console will not be released for at least a few years. Still, are you interested in buying an Xbox handheld? Vote in the poll below and discuss the subject in the comments section.

Xbox Handheld Prototypes Spark Interest Amid Positive Gaming Market Trends

According to rumors circulating online, multiple Xbox handheld prototypes are being developed at Microsoft.

During the latest episode of the Xbox Two podcast, Windows Central's Jez Corden revealed that the company is currently developing multiple Xbox handheld prototypes for a system that will play Xbox games natively. The fact that there are various prototypes does not guarantee that the device will be released; devices are canned all the time, as Microsoft did with the Surface Mini.

While the Xbox handheld may never reach the market, Jez Corden believes it will for some reasons. For starters, the current landscape appears quite favorable, with the success of the Steam Deck and similar devices. It would be wild for Microsoft not to move forward with its device, especially given how Valve has built a handheld gaming platform with exclusives from both Microsoft and Sony.

Furthermore, unlike other rumors, such as those from earlier this year claiming that Microsoft was going third-party, no one has debunked the Xbox handheld rumors, implying that the company is at least considering the possibility.

Xbox Handheld Release Timeline Uncertain, New Dev Kit Sparks Next-Gen Speculation

It is impossible to say when an Xbox handheld will be released, but it will likely not be this year or next. As a product approaches release, more information leaks out, as is the case with the PlayStation 5 Pro, and the fact that this has yet to occur suggests that the device is far from launch.

Along with commenting on the Xbox handheld, Jez Corden discussed the mysterious new dev kit certified in South Korea last week. Corden speculates that it could be a new version of the dev kit with some AI features to help developers prepare for the next-generation console, but concrete information is needed

Rumors about an Xbox handheld have been circulating online for quite some time. The dockable handheld will be a second SKU for Microsoft's next-generation console, capable of running native Xbox games.

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