Microsofts Xbox Handheld Plans Reportedly Shelved; Company to Optimise Windows 11 Gaming Performance

The Xbox handheld is dead. At least it has been kept on ice. There have been muttered rumors of a native Xbox handheld, but now Microsoft is supposedly applying the brakes on its development. Once this dream machine was to be next-gen and capable of contending with a Nintendo Switch and a Steam Deck, it now finds itself on the sidelines.

Don’t cry just yet, handheld hopefuls; Microsoft is not sidelining the portable industry altogether. Redmond, on the other hand, is massaging every strand of energy into giving Windows 11 a supercharge for handhelds. Think SteamOS, only it’s got Windows’ full stock, tweaked for performance and battery life finally.

How about that alluring Xbox device, a la Asus ROG Ally, codenamed “Project Kennan”? Rest easy, gamers. It means that this partnership has not been affected, so perhaps Microsoft’s handheld ambition is just pivoting rather than dispelling altogether. Maybe the future of Xbox gaming is really still in your hands-albeit not quite as we had originally conceived.

Microsoft Shifts Focus to Windows 11 Amid Threat From SteamOS

The dream of an Xbox handheld just got put on pause. Windows Central whispers that the portable console has been shelved by Microsoft. Translation? Don’t expect such a thing to debut with next-gen Xbox in 2027. This is not yet another competitor to Asus ROG Ally, mind you. PC-powered handhelds are still slated for a 2024 launch. This, however, was a dedicated Xbox experience, on hold at the moment.

Win 11 can become the next big thing in handheld gaming. Much has been said about Microsoft going full bore in optimizing its flagship OS for these powerful little machines. Imagine third-party handhelds of the future arriving with a Windows 11 tweaked so finely that it runs like clockwork-a soft melodic purring in the background rather than a laboring gasping breath. Our previous handheld reviews have showcased the raw pain points: battery draining faster than free pizza, navigation so cumbersome it makes you want to hurl the console across the room, and updates that feel like pulling teeth. But that might possibly be a thing of the past.

Is SteamOS winning against Steam Deck the secret weapon in Microsoft’s handheld plans for Windows 11? The recent launching of Legion Go S from Lenovo, better performing than Steam Deckandrunning Valve’s OS, indicates a shift in the tides. With SteamOS to usher in a new generation of portable gaming devices, is Microsoft preparing for a hand-to-hand clash?

But SteamOS isn’t the only presence Microsoft’s peripheral vision can fix. The Nintendo Switch 2 is gearing up for launch, apparently hitting selective territories in June. It is a suit battle because the gaming giant is competing against established handheld contenders.

Reports leaking out of Redmond have noted that Microsoft is polishing Windows 11 for handhelds, potentially revolutionizing the user experience on these pocket-sized powerhouses. All eyes are on Asus, said to be launching their “Project Kennan” console in 2025. Recent FCC filings offer tempting glimpses into the device’s design and add fuel to the hype around its arrival.

The future of Xbox seems bolder amidst rumors from Redmond with a dedicated handheld device meant to play Xbox titles on the go. Imagine just stepping away from the couch and taking the Halo campaign for a road trip! The crystal ball is hazy, but industry rumors are manufacturing a 2027-2028 window around the expected launch of the next-generation Microsoft consoles. Could this be the origins of truly portable Xbox gaming?

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