Microsoft Reveals Insights on the Upcoming Xbox Handheld at CES 2025
At CES 2025, following a series of announcements about new handheld devices utilizing AMD’s Ryzen Z2 processor, Microsoft took the opportunity to shed light on its eagerly awaited Xbox handheld gaming device. This unveiling has generated considerable excitement in the gaming community.
Insights from Microsoft’s Xbox Gaming Executive
The Verge had the chance to converse with Jason Ronald, Vice President of Xbox Gaming Devices and Ecosystem at Microsoft. Ronald, who played a pivotal role in the successful launches of the Xbox One X and Xbox Series S|X, assured fans that the upcoming handheld is designed to blend the finest features of console and PC gaming.
Bridging Innovation Between Consoles and Handhelds
Ronald emphasized the continuous innovation in the console sector, stating, “We’ve been really innovating for a long time in the console space.” He expressed that the primary focus is on incorporating the advancements made in the console realm into the handheld and PC gaming landscapes.
He elaborated, “It’s really about how do we bring those innovations that we’ve incubated and developed in the console space and bring them to PC and the handheld gaming space.” The aim is to create a unified gaming experience that aligns Xbox with the capabilities of Windows.
Player-Centric Experience at the Forefront
Ronald articulated Microsoft’s ambition to center the player and their gaming library in this new experience, ensuring it deviates from the complexities typically associated with Windows. “Our goal is to put the player and their library at the center of the experience,” he remarked, highlighting a focus on user accessibility.
Anticipating the Launch Timeline
While the release of the Xbox handheld is not around the corner, Ronald hinted that more details would be shared later in the year, building anticipation among gamers. Speculative discussions surrounding Microsoft’s handheld initiatives have circulated for several years now. Recently, gaming chief Phil Spencer acknowledged the project, although he mentioned it is still a few years away.
Putting together the pieces of the puzzle, it seems that a late 2026 launch window could be a reasonable estimate, coinciding with rumors of a new Xbox home console debuting during the same period.
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