The much-rumored Xbox Handheld, codename Keenan, is coming to us closer than you think (I first mentioned this in Nov 2024)! The details are exclusively from a report via Windows Central. It’s set to be released this year (probably before Christmas to make for the maximum sale) and it is as much as I suspected: MicroSoft is just going to get a manufacturer to make their handheld. I think they are going to partner with Asus, who make the ROG Ally (my favorite handheld), to redesign an Xbox-branded ROG Ally. There will be some key difference, probably the branding and also that Xbox Button that you find on all their controller. The Xbox button would bring up a hotbar – similar to what you get when you’re playing on an Xbox Series X or S.

So why do I think MicroSoft is going with Asus? Simply because Lenovo has already partnered with Steam for their Steam-only device of their Legion Go S, which I mentioned in Jan 2025. On the same logic, perhaps it would also make sense that Lenovo will offer both a Steam Edition and Xbox Edition, with that custom Xbox Button for their Legion Go S.

Of course, maybe Xbox would just go with a fairly unknown company… for example, MSI (maker of The Claw) will do anything to stand out with a partnership with Xbox. To be perfectly honest, it’s probably Xbox’s best interests to just partner with everyone, so they can dominate the handheld landscape. If anything, I want MicroSoft to produce a lean, mean operating system specifically for video games for the handheld.

I’m in the process of moving, so I don’t want more stuff… but hearing about this Xbox handheld, I will break my rule and buy this – just to see what Xbox can bring to the table with their official handheld!