{"id":180119,"date":"2025-06-13T04:01:12","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T04:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/180119\/"},"modified":"2025-06-13T04:01:12","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T04:01:12","slug":"xbox-first-party-handheld-plans-essentially-cancelled-claims-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/180119\/","title":{"rendered":"Xbox First-Party Handheld Plans ‘Essentially Cancelled’, Claims Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Xbox<\/a><\/p>\n

Back in late May, it was reported by Windows Central<\/a>‘s Jez Corden that plans for a 2027 first-party Xbox handheld had been “sidelined” at Microsoft<\/a>, although the company was still interested in developing something in the future.<\/p>\n

The Verge<\/a> is now taking this a step further today, with editor Tom Warren stating that based on what he’s heard, the first-party Xbox handheld has been “essentially cancelled”. Here’s an excerpt from his report:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI\u2019ve heard from insiders that it\u2019s essentially canceled as the company focuses on Xbox\u2019s new software platform.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

“I still think we\u2019ll see next-gen Xbox hardware from Microsoft, but I also strongly believe we\u2019ll see multiple devices from PC makers like Asus that will also be considered next-gen Xbox consoles.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Corden has suggested he’s sticking by his “sidelined” mention in the report from late May, as he’s “not willing to say it’s fully cancelled yet” due to what he’s heard about Microsoft being interested in making a handheld in the future.<\/p>\n

However, he also admits that very few “on hold” products have ever truly made a resurgence:<\/p>\n

Many believe internally that it has been cancelled, but Microsoft still “aspires” to do it from what I’ve heard. I think in reality it has been functionally cancelled, because what product “on hold” has ever returned from the dead? We’ll see.\u2014 Jez (@JezCorden) June 12, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Beyond this, there’s a belief from Tom Warren that the next Xbox console<\/a> “is going to operate a lot like the ROG Xbox Ally, so you’ll be able to get access to Steam games” – referencing the new ASUS ROG Xbox Ally handheld<\/a> that was announced last week.<\/p>\n

Corden doesn’t quite share the same view though, stating that “the next Xbox will play your Xbox console games, so in my view, the Xbox Ally is not really a blueprint of what to expect”.<\/p>\n

I think the next Xbox console is going to operate a lot like the ROG Xbox Ally, so you’ll be able to get access to Steam games\u2014 Tom Warren (@tomwarren) June 12, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

false, at least for one more gen. who knows what happens after?<\/p>\n

unlike the xbox ally, the next xbox will play your xbox console games. so in my view, the xbox ally is not really a blueprint of what to expect.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Jez (@JezCorden) June 12, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It’s probably still too early to nail down the next Xbox console stuff, but when it comes to the first-party handheld, it certainly sounds like Microsoft has given up on the device as things stand. The ROG Xbox Ally<\/a> is taking precedence for now, along with other existing devices, and it makes sense for Microsoft to focus on those for the time being.<\/p>\n

Would we like to see a first-party Xbox handheld in the future? Of course! The ROG Xbox Ally still looks extremely exciting though, and if Team Xbox can find a way to put native console games<\/a> on that device in the months and years ahead, we may not even need a first-party Xbox handheld when all’s said and done.<\/p>\n

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know down in the comments section below.<\/p>\n

\"Fraser<\/p>\n

Fraser is the News Editor at Pure Xbox, where he spends his time reporting on the biggest stories in the world of Xbox and beyond.<\/p>\n