Gaming hardware company ASUS has recently teased what may be the much-talked-about Xbox-branded handheld device. The ASUS Republic of Gamers X/Twitter account shared a teaser featuring its "little robot friend cooking something up," giving us a brief glimpse of both a Republic of Gamers (ROG) Xbox controller and a handheld system.
Last month, IGN reported on Microsoft’s video game hardware ambitions, which allegedly include a full next-gen Xbox set for release in 2027 and an Xbox-branded gaming handheld that could hit the market later in 2025.
The handheld teased by ASUS clearly features buttons configured for Xbox (Y, B, A, and X, rather than PlayStation's triangle, circle, cross, and square, or Nintendo's X, A, B, and Y). It also includes a D-pad, two thumbsticks, and four smaller additional buttons, though these are not clearly visible in the teaser.
Adding to the intrigue, the official Xbox account responded to the teaser with a cheeky wide-eyed gif, hinting that a reveal may be on the horizon.
pic.twitter.com/ONZpeEmNka
— Xbox (@Xbox) March 31, 2025
While we don't have a specific date for the reveal or a concrete launch window yet, the monitor in the teaser lists "Marathon stamina, more capacity, faster speeds" and "fresh look!" as potential unique selling points for the handheld.
In January, Jason Ronald, Microsoft’s VP of ‘Next Generation,’ told The Verge that the company plans to integrate Xbox and Windows experiences for PC gaming handhelds produced by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like ASUS, Lenovo, and Razer.
Although this Xbox-branded gaming handheld is not a Microsoft-made console, the company is reportedly set to launch its own first-party handheld in the future. Microsoft gaming boss Phil Spencer has indicated that a first-party Xbox handheld is still years away.
Meanwhile, the successor to the Xbox Series X is reportedly in full production and expected to launch in 2027, aligning with Xbox president Sarah Bond's recent comments that Microsoft is "moving full speed ahead on our next generation hardware," focusing on delivering the most significant technological leap in a generation.
There has been much speculation about the future of gaming consoles, with Netflix's President of Games, Alain Tascan, predicting a future generation that relies less on gaming consoles. However, major players like Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo continue to push forward with new hardware. Nintendo's highly anticipated Switch 2 is set to be showcased in a Nintendo Direct on April 2, where fans are eager to learn more about its features, release date, and pre-order details.
