ASUS Teases Xbox-Branded Handheld

Gaming hardware company ASUS has recently teased what could be the rumored Xbox-branded handheld device. The ASUS Republic of Gamers X/Twitter account shared a teaser featuring its "little robot friend cooking something up," giving a brief glimpse at both a Republic of Gamers (ROG) Xbox controller and a handheld system.

Last month, IGN reported on Microsoft’s video game hardware ambitions, which reportedly include a full next-gen Xbox slated for 2027 and an Xbox-branded gaming handheld that might launch later in 2025.

The handheld shown in ASUS's teaser clearly displays buttons configured for Xbox, featuring Y, B, A, and X, rather than the PlayStation's triangle, circle, cross, and square, or Nintendo's X, A, B, and Y. Additionally, it includes a D-pad, two thumbsticks, and four smaller buttons, though these are harder to discern clearly.

Interestingly, the official Xbox account acknowledged the tweet with a cheeky wide-eyed gif, hinting at an upcoming reveal.

pic.twitter.com/ONZpeEmNka

— Xbox (@Xbox) March 31, 2025

While details are scarce, the monitor in the teaser states "Marathon stamina, more capacity, faster speeds" and "fresh look!" This provides a glimpse into the potential unique selling points of the handheld.

In January, Jason Ronald, Microsoft’s VP of ‘Next Generation,’ told The Verge that the company plans to merge Xbox and Windows experiences for PC gaming handhelds made by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), which include ASUS, Lenovo, and Razer.

Although this Xbox-branded gaming handheld is not a Microsoft-made console, the company is reportedly planning to launch its own console in 2027, alongside its next-gen Xbox. Microsoft gaming boss Phil Spencer recently indicated that a first-party Xbox handheld is still years away.

The successor to the Xbox Series X is now allegedly "fully" in production and expected to launch in two years, aligning with Xbox president Sarah Bond's recent comments that Microsoft is "moving full speed ahead on our next generation hardware," focused on delivering the biggest technological leap ever in a generation.

Amidst ongoing speculation about the future of consoles, Netflix's President of Games, Alain Tascan, recently stated that he expects a future generation that relies less on gaming consoles, despite major players like Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo pushing forward with new hardware. Nintendo's highly anticipated Switch 2 device will be showcased in a Nintendo Direct on April 2, with fans eager to learn more about its features, release date, and pre-order management.