Xbox Handheld: Everything We Know So Far, Including The Latest Rumours

What Are The Rumours Saying About The Xbox Handheld?

There have been plenty of rumours going around about the Xbox handheld as of late, some of which are more interesting than others! A lot of them have been focused around exactly when we’re going to see the device for the first time, with some believing it could even be as soon as this year – albeit perhaps as a tease rather than a full reveal.

It’s also been rumoured a couple of times that the Xbox handheld may launch alongside the next Xbox console, which itself has been rumoured to arrive anywhere from 2026 onwards. It seems the plan, at least as things stand right now, is for Xbox to go into the next generation with some seriously cool new hardware for fans to enjoy.

If you’re wondering whether the Xbox handheld will allow you to download games natively (rather than serving as a dedicated cloud streaming device), it’s believed that it almost certainly will – but this hasn’t been fully confirmed yet.

What Games Will The Xbox Handheld Support?

There’s no way of knowing exactly which games the Xbox handheld will support until Microsoft confirms them, but considering it’s likely to be a Windows PC-style device, the focus will probably be around the Xbox App on PC.

If you can download a game via PC Game Pass, you’ll almost certainly be able to play it on the Xbox handheld as well, and then more compatibility may be added on top. Don’t forget about the likes of Xbox Cloud Gaming and Xbox Remote Play that will enable more console titles to be streamed to the Xbox handheld too!

Will The Xbox Handheld Get A 2025 Release Date?

We’re not expecting the Xbox handheld to release in 2025, although there’s a chance it may be teased for the first time. As mentioned earlier in the guide, a rumour from last year did hint at the possibility of a reveal at some point in 2025.

However, Xbox boss Phil Spencer has insisted that making the Xbox App and UI more suitable for existing Windows handhelds is the priority right now, which obviously will benefit the Xbox handheld when it eventually launches. Based on that, we think the Xbox handheld won’t release until at least 2026, and possibly much later than that.