Greg Miller

That's not it. They don't want that.

We could have done better. Number one, Xbox handheld Project Kennen is reportedly being made by Asus. This is Alessio Palumbo over at WCCF Tech. And we had this conversation before. It's the ROG ally is supposed to be ROG. Is ASUS supposed to be ASUS?

We could have done better. Number one, Xbox handheld Project Kennen is reportedly being made by Asus. This is Alessio Palumbo over at WCCF Tech. And we had this conversation before. It's the ROG ally is supposed to be ROG. Is ASUS supposed to be ASUS?

Earlier this week, Windows Central's Jez Corden published a report detailing Microsoft's plans for the next generation Xbox, as well as the long-awaited Xbox handheld. As for the former, the report said a successor to the Series X is already in the works for a targeted 2027 release window. When it comes to the latter, Microsoft is allegedly planning its own handheld system, also due in 2027.

Earlier this week, Windows Central's Jez Corden published a report detailing Microsoft's plans for the next generation Xbox, as well as the long-awaited Xbox handheld. As for the former, the report said a successor to the Series X is already in the works for a targeted 2027 release window. When it comes to the latter, Microsoft is allegedly planning its own handheld system, also due in 2027.

But the report also mentioned Xbox-partnered handheld device Project K... Oh, now it's spelled different here.

But the report also mentioned Xbox-partnered handheld device Project K... Oh, now it's spelled different here.

I fucking can't wait. Codename Project Kenan. After Kenan Thompson, I assume. Due this year with the partnership of PCOEM Manufacturer. I want to give you that entire sentence again without me being a goofball. But the report also mentioned an Xbox partner handheld device codenamed Project Kenan due this year with a partnership of a PC OEM manufacturer.

I fucking can't wait. Codename Project Kenan. After Kenan Thompson, I assume. Due this year with the partnership of PCOEM Manufacturer. I want to give you that entire sentence again without me being a goofball. But the report also mentioned an Xbox partner handheld device codenamed Project Kenan due this year with a partnership of a PC OEM manufacturer.

A few hours ago, The Verge's Tom Warren shared his own report in the latest Notepad newsletter. First, the project's correct codename is Kenan, not Kenan. Second, his sources revealed that the Xbox handheld's manufacturer is Asus. Asus. A-S-U-S. The device will run on Windows, of course, but it will feature an interface that is very much reminiscent of Xbox consoles.

A few hours ago, The Verge's Tom Warren shared his own report in the latest Notepad newsletter. First, the project's correct codename is Kenan, not Kenan. Second, his sources revealed that the Xbox handheld's manufacturer is Asus. Asus. A-S-U-S. The device will run on Windows, of course, but it will feature an interface that is very much reminiscent of Xbox consoles.

This is reportedly part of a larger project codenamed Project Bayside to unify Xbox and Windows under a unified Xbox user interface, regardless of the device being used. Warren also wrote that Microsoft is working to ensure a single store for games and an easier way for game developers to create titles for handhelds, console-like hardware, and PCs.

This is reportedly part of a larger project codenamed Project Bayside to unify Xbox and Windows under a unified Xbox user interface, regardless of the device being used. Warren also wrote that Microsoft is working to ensure a single store for games and an easier way for game developers to create titles for handhelds, console-like hardware, and PCs.

At CES 2025, Microsoft's Jason Ronald, vice president of Xbox Gaming Devices and Ecosystem, openly teased this concept when he said they've worked hard to bring the best of console and PC together, drawing on their long-time experiences on both platforms as part of their Xbox handheld efforts.

At CES 2025, Microsoft's Jason Ronald, vice president of Xbox Gaming Devices and Ecosystem, openly teased this concept when he said they've worked hard to bring the best of console and PC together, drawing on their long-time experiences on both platforms as part of their Xbox handheld efforts.

Right now, Windows-powered PC handhelds don't really offer the most user-friendly experience, and Microsoft aims to address that with this initiative. Following Warren's report, Corden wrote another article to admit that the colleague was right on the Project Kennan codename.

Right now, Windows-powered PC handhelds don't really offer the most user-friendly experience, and Microsoft aims to address that with this initiative. Following Warren's report, Corden wrote another article to admit that the colleague was right on the Project Kennan codename.

He also corroborated that ASUS is indeed the chosen manufacturer and offered an estimate on the likely pricing, between $4.99 and $5.99. This could hint that the hardware could be using AMD's Z2 Go chipset previously seen on the Lenovo Legion Go S. The Z2 Go chipset is slightly slower than the Z1 Extreme and quite a bit slower than its larger sibling, the Z2 Extreme.

He also corroborated that ASUS is indeed the chosen manufacturer and offered an estimate on the likely pricing, between $4.99 and $5.99. This could hint that the hardware could be using AMD's Z2 Go chipset previously seen on the Lenovo Legion Go S. The Z2 Go chipset is slightly slower than the Z1 Extreme and quite a bit slower than its larger sibling, the Z2 Extreme.

However, it's still more powerful than the APU currently available in Valve's Steam Deck. The Xbox handheld would, therefore, sit somewhere in the middle of the pack when it comes to performance, although again, this information is not at all assured.