Microsoftwill finally break into the handheld console market, with a portableXboxin development for this console generation. This comes from leaked court documents revealing some of Microsoft’s biggest plans for the next few years, including botha new home consoleand a portable device.
The document doesn’t give us the best look at it, but from what we can see, the portable Xbox definitely resembles other current-gen handhelds. With a huge screen and buttons on either side, it’s sticking with theSwitch/Steam Deckdesign that’s become so popular, giving players a huge display to play their games on the go.
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It’s not clear when this handheld Xbox will be with us, but it certainly seems to be planned for this console generation. In the graphic below, it’s right next to another leaked piece of Microsoft hardware - a digital Xbox Series X - so we can expect it around this time. There will also be a solely cloud-based device in this period, so Xbox definitely seems to be casting a wide net to increase hardware sales.
When this portable Xbox is with us, it means that, for the first time ever, each of the big three will have its own handheld on the market. Sony has already thrown its hat in the ring with the PlayStation Portal, which will launch later this year. Nintendo obviously has the hybrid Switch console and isrumoured to have its follow-up under wraps, ready to show off to the world. Throw in the Steam Deck, and it seems that everyone wants to get in on this market.
This is far from the only Xbox leak we’ve had today. The court documents reveal a ton of Xbox’s biggest plans for this console generation, both in terms of hardware and software development. On the gaming side of things, we now know thatFallout 3 and Oblivion remasters are in the works, as isanother Doom game, and even Dishonored 3.
Xbox almost definitely would have preferred to keep the lot of this away from the eyes of the public, so it won’t be pleased that such confidential plans are now there for us all to see. In fact, the documents were so wide-ranging that we even got a peek at an email in whichPhil Spencer expressed his desire to acquire Nintendo and Valve. If you thought the Activision Blizzard acquisition was dragging on, imagine how either of those would have gone. But since Xbox is now working on its own platform, we can assume neither party was interested.
