Microsoft and Asus are actively collaborating on a portable Xbox console that will be a direct competitor to Steam Deck.
In November, Microsoft Gaming head Phil Spencer said that a full-fledged pocket console would take several years to arrive, and there were rumors about this. But now insiders say that the companies are working on a console. The console is positioned as one that will supposedly change the market of portable gaming computers. Microsoft is preparing Project Kennan — portable device, which will be produced by Asus. But it’s not just a Windows device, it’s the integration of Windows and Xbox into a single platform.
Most likely, Project Kennan «will look unmistakably like Xbox». Even though the console will be produced by Asus — the device will retain Microsoft’s corporate identity: the Xbox guide button, special UI, and deep integration with Xbox Game Pass. Kennan is likely to run on Windows, but with an interface close to the Xbox to simplify the launch of games from the Xbox and PC libraries. Nothing is known about the technical specifications yet.
Perhaps the console will be something like the Steam Deck with SteamOS, but made by Microsoft. The company may also introduce a certified program so that only specific devices can run games and apps from the Xbox and Windows ecosystems.
It looks like Microsoft tempted by the success of Steam Deck which showed that many users have purchased the console. In addition, Valve allows manufacturers to install SteamOS on their devices, such as PCs. For Microsoft, the scenario where SteamOS popularity will increase is not the best. Then the corporation will cease to be the only standard OS for gaming PCs.
If everything goes according to plan, the first Project Kennan device will appear in the second half of 2025. Provided that the release actually takes place during this period, it coincides with the expected release of Nintendo Switch 2. But let’s not forget that work on the console is still ongoing, and Microsoft hasn’t officially announced anything yet.
At the same time, the tech giant is working on Project Bayside — a platform that should make Windows closer to Xbox. A single interface that will allow playing the Xbox library on different PCs, laptops, future consoles, etc. Given the problems with Windows 11 on laptops (as in ROG Ally or Lenovo Legion Go), the new optimized system could be a breakthrough.
The company also plans to release the next generation of Xbox consoles in 2027. And if Project Kennan and Bayside are successful, the next Xbox may look more like a PC than a classic console. But until there is an official announcement, we can only wait.
Source: The Verge
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