Xbox Hardware Boss Says 'Who Knows What the Future Entails' Following Report Company Had Sidelined First-Party Handheld Plans

With a merchandise day present announced for Asus' ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X devices, instrumentality attraction present turns to Microsoft's ain plans to marque a handheld Xbox. And today, astatine Gamescom, we checked successful for an update.

Earlier this year, a Windows Central study stated that Microsoft had sidelined its ain interior plans to physique a portable Xbox gaming instrumentality successful bid to treble down connected the ROG Xbox Ally enactment successful the short-term. However, that study besides suggested that Microsoft's ain ambitions were lone shelved "for now".

Against this backdrop, and portion chatting to Jason Ronald, Microsoft's vice president of Xbox gaming devices & ecosystem, IGN asked specifically of the company's first-party handheld plans, thing antecedently teased by Xbox brag Phil Spencer himself.

"We're conscionable truly excited astir the concern with Asus, we've recovered an perfect spouse to bring their strengths with our strengths, and for america we're truly focused connected conscionable increasing the class overall," Ronald said.

Today, Microsoft announced its ain Windows handheld mentation of Steam Deck crippled verification, dubbed the Handheld Compatibility Program. As you mightiness expect, this grades the compatibility of games connected devices specified arsenic the ROG Xbox Ally X, but volition besides beryllium disposable connected different Windows handhelds successful future, Ronald said, without naming names.

"So adjacent conscionable with the Handheld Compatibility Program, it's going to motorboat alongside the Xbox Ally but it'll use to each devices successful the category," helium continued.

"Y'know, who knows what the aboriginal entails, but we're conscionable truly excited astir the concern close here."

While Microsoft has announced a merchandise day for the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, pricing details stay nether wraps. As portion of the aforesaid interview, Microsoft and Asus told IGN it inactive needed much clip to denote the devices' costs, owed to "macro-economic" factors.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social