Microsoft’s Xbox Handheld: Will It Beat the Steam Deck or Fall Short?

Con Ryan Messina Notizie
14 marzo 2025 Nessun commento

With Microsoft’s new plans for the much-rumored portable console, will the Xbox Handheld be able to surpass the Steam Deck?

Discover the news about the arrival of the next-gen console and portable console from Xbox!

The Xbox Portable Console is a new system confirmed to be in development, specifically from an interview with Phil Spencer in November 2024. It confirms the development with a prototype being tested. This is certainly in line with the philosophy of offering Xbox as a true multi-platform ecosystem.

And it would have potential with a portable device, capable of competing with Nintendo, but more significantly with Steam Deck and Steam. Using the Microsoft game library, especially Xbox Game Pass Ultimate which offers a vast library of games, including new releases, at a low price!

Xbox Handheld: The Development News in Collaboration with Asus

From the latest news, it seems that the development of the Xbox portable console is succeeding. In fact, according to the latest news from Windows Central, we will see the next-gen Xbox in 2027. Meanwhile, in 2025, we will see the arrival of the portable console, codenamed Project Kennan, in collaboration with an OEM.

New sources have revealed to The Verge that Kennan is being developed alongside ASUS, the same company behind the Rog Ally, with the second iteration already in the Rog Ally X. It is particularly interesting that Kennan seems to use the AMD Z2 chip. Although it’s not clear if Kennan is a separate project or if it’s actually Rog Ally 2.

Xbox / ASUS partner handheld “Kennan.”

Everything we know so far, with informed speculation on price, launch date, specs, and more: https://t.co/zPOOMjcMiZ

— Windows Central Gaming (@WinC_Gaming) March 12, 2025

Xbox Handheld: Specifications, Price, and Announcement Date

Jez Corden from Windows Central talks about the possible specifications of Kennan. It should feature the AMD Z2 Extreme chip, the most powerful chip in AMD’s new Mobile APU series. With the following specifications:

• Processor: 3x Zen 5 Cores + 5x Zen 5C Cores for a total of 8 Cores and 16 Threads (SMT). With a variable frequency of 2 GHz up to 5.0 GHz (3.3 for Zen 5C cores). With 24 MB of total cache (8 L2 + 16 L3)
• TDP: Base of 28w and configurable from 15w to 35w
• Graphics: 16 CU based on RDNA 3.5, similar to a Radeon 890M

4nm TSMC architecture makes it practically similar to the Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360, but without the Ryzen AI NPU and with a more powerful GPU. This chip, according to Jez, could ideally appear in an Xbox console priced around $599, with June’s Xbox Showcase 2025 being the ideal date for the announcement.

Xbox Project Kennan vs Steam Deck: Features and Expectations

From the shared news, Project Kennan seems to have all the elements for a powerful device at a competitive price. Steam Deck remains the biggest competitor, but on price and performance, it should have the edge. However, the issue remains on the software side. Xbox’s offering guarantees the ability to play many multiplayer games that aren’t compatible with Linux.

But what made Steam Deck popular is SteamOS. With an operating system in hand compared to the Windows 11 skins from ASUS, Lenovo, and MSI. Therefore, we’ll have to see Xbox’s approach to the handheld Windows 11 experience. Among the most important elements is the famous Xbox Game Pass. Embracing the “Xbox Play Anywhere” philosophy with an ideal experience.

In this newest pod, we’re sitting down to discuss:

• Copilot for Gaming
• Xbox Play Anywhere updates
• Cloud Gaming
• and more: https://t.co/eA6S0HAbHm pic.twitter.com/8LozlAUNCV

— Xbox (@Xbox) March 13, 2025

In Conclusion

We will soon find out if Xbox plans to launch its Handheld in 2025. And at least from what has been shared, it seems to be an offering that is as powerful as it is reasonably priced. With a Z2 Extreme chip offering a leap in quality over the Z1 Extreme in terms of performance and efficiency. What do you think of Project Kennan? Let us know in the comments!

Ryan Messina

Grande appassionato di videogiochi fin da quando ho messo mano per la prima volta il Game Boy. Provando numerosi giochi nel corso degli anni, tra i generi più disparati e trovando alcune gemme nascoste e titoli di nicchia. Appassionato anche di tecnologia, sempre aggiornato sulle ultime novità del panorama videoludico PC e console. Pronto a condividere e portarvi le ultime news al riguardo.