Summary
As theXboxGames Showcase draws nearer, promising a new look at several upcoming games, a new leak suggests that Microsoft could be preparing to reveal a new console as well. As part of a series of gaming reveals in June,Xbox announced its Games Showcase would be taking place at 1pm ET on Sunday, June 9, with aCall of DutyBlack Ops 6Direct immediately following it, providing the first look at gameplay for the next entry in the long-running first-person shooter series, which was recently confirmed to becoming to Xbox Game Passupon its launch.
As reported by the well-known leakereXtas1son their YouTube channel, Microsoft will reveal its new Xbox handheld (referred to as the “Xbox Portable”) during its showcaseand shadow-drop a title from its first-party catalog during the event.
While details on what this title would be were sparse, this would align with past Xbox events as titles such as the rhythm-action gameHi-Fi Rushhave been announced during Developer Directs and immediately came to Game Pass straight after. It is worth noting that eXtas1s suggests it will be a first-party title that everyone expects to see, meaning it won’t be a brand-new game reveal.
New Xbox Console Leaks Hint At Big Change In Strategy For Next Generation
According to one leaker, Microsoft won’t waste time releasing its next console, possibly setting a release date for the new system within 2026.
A Handheld Xbox Console Has Been Rumored For A While
Xbox CEO Phil Spencer Previously Spoke About His Handheld Gaming Experience
As PC gaming handhelds such as the Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and more are becoming increasingly popular, taking a huge library of games on the go with decent performance and visuals, rumors have circulated as to whether Microsoft would venture into this territory with its Xbox brand. Xbox CEO Phil Spencer has previously talked about his experience with these PC gaming handhelds in an interview withPolygon, stating that while he is impressed by the systems,he wants to make the experience closer to that of playing an Xbox device.
Xbox’s Cloud Gaming app has enabled players to access a select library of Game Pass titles on the go, albeit via streaming, which comes with its own issues when trying to get a stable gaming experience on the go. Back in March 2024,Windows Central’sJez Corden claimed that Microsoft was working on anew native Xbox handheldthat would be able to download and play their games offline, aligning with the kind of experience Spencer said he wanted from handheld consoles, and that prototypes were already in development.
Therefore, if Microsoft has been developing such a handheld gaming device for a while, it’s very possible this could appear at the June 9 Xbox Games Showcase. With access to download and play the large Xbox Game Pass library and other owned titles from players libraries on the go, there could certainly be a market for anXboxhandheld, especially if it were made with similar console components that perhaps made it cheaper than some of the other PC gaming handhelds on the market.
